There’s a friendly new face in the Newark Central School District’s Human Resources Department.
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It’s Nicole Ellison who joined the HR team in February and works with Jake Taft, Executive Director of Human Resources and School Personnel Assistant Michael Nolan. She filled the vacancy created by Dawna Dreas’ October departure to become the new secretary of the NCSD Facilities and IT Departments.
“Working as an HR Secretary has been an incredibly positive experience so far,” Ellison said. “The supportive, family-oriented culture and upbeat environment make it a place where I feel valued and motivated every day. I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter. The work is engaging, the team is inspiring, and I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
"We are truly fortunate to have Nicole join our team,” Taft said. “It was clear through the interview process that she is not only a very capable professional but is also keenly aware of what training and perspectives post-secondary teacher preparation programs are doing with soon-to-be-educators. It is this type of experience that will help support Newark's recruiting efforts, as much as supporting us in the future as the landscape of teacher preparation programs adapts to changing times."
Ellison brings a diverse professional background to the role. She spent nearly five years as an administrative assistant in Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ Educational Studies Department, and before that, five years supporting the Occupational Therapy Department and Nursing Division at Keuka College.
Her career path also includes nearly 20 years in the dental field—starting as a dental assistant and eventually becoming an office manager at Grateful Dental of Geneva. These days, she still keeps a foot in that world, working part time doing private dental billing remotely, and she’s also a commissioned notary.
Ellison graduated from Waterloo High School. She now lives in Geneva with her husband, Wayne, who works at Cayuga Milk in Auburn—and their three energetic dogs, including a rescue lab mix and two German Shepherds that keep life lively at home.
Family is at the center of it all. Ellison and her husband have three grown sons and five grandchildren. “They bring so much joy to our lives,” she said. “Of all the roles I’ve had, being Mom and Nana is the one I treasure the most.”
When she does find a quiet moment, Ellison enjoys reading and crocheting—simple pleasures that balance out her busy, people-focused days.