Thursday, July 9, 2020

New Precautions for Hotels in the Wake Of COVID-19


Education professional Nichole Thiel has worked in both administrative and educational capacities, gaining diverse experience across a wide range of industries, including corporate retail and sales. In a search for new opportunities, Nichole Thiel has now shifted to working in the hospitality industry, which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

As hotels begin to reopen, with restrictions being lifted in numerous locations, the reality is that the hotels we return to may look very different than before the pandemic. Best Western and its arsenal of brands are no exception, as new cleaning procedures are being implemented by nearly all the major hotel brands across the globe.

Best Western is one of the many major hotel chains dedicated to implementing the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) StaySafe campaign. Created by an advisory council composed of members from across the hotel industry, the AHLA StaySafe campaign covers everything from how to implement contactless check-in and check-out procedures to new and updated cleaning and sanitization procedures.

To facilitate the adoption of these new policies, the AHLA’s American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute has created a new online program titled “COVID-19 Precautions for Hotels.” The course is available in both English and Spanish for employees of all levels. Because of its easy length (just 15 minutes) and affordability, this course will be a simple addition to improving training and helping update cleaning procedures.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Challenges Faced By Charter Schools in the US


Former high school teacher Nichole Thiel has served in several educational institutions throughout her career, including the University of Idaho. Nicole Thiel also was vice-principal at a top-ranked charter school in Idaho. Charter schools have been facing problems for many years, but despite criticism, they continue to offer the best educational outcomes for some populations of students.

One of the big struggles that charter schools have to deal with is infrastructure. Only about 27 percent of charter schools occupy buildings specifically constructed for them. The majority rent or lease space, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to traditional public schools.

Charter schools also have limited access to state funding compared to public schools. On average, charter schools receive around three-quarters of the finding traditional public schools receive per pupil.

One area where both traditional and charter schools continue to struggle is in providing equitable access to education across student cross-sections. All these problems have received some attention in recent years, but there’s still a long way to go if more charter schools are to open.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Peony Care and Growing Tips

Peony Image:pexels.com
Peony Image:pexels.com
Diversely experienced school administrator Nichole Thiel has fostered leadership and study skills in high school students through her work as a career and technical education teacher. Away from her current work as a certified dementia care provider, Nichole Thiel enjoys gardening and tending to her peonies.

Brightly colored peonies are popular among gardeners due to their hardiness and longevity. If cared for properly, a peony plant can live for more than a century. Hundreds of peony types are available, including shrub-like and hybrid varieties. 

Peonies are generally low maintenance, and they do best in cool to moderately warm growing conditions. The perennials should be planted outdoors six weeks before the first frost in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Gardeners should add a thick layer of compost around the base of the plant once a year to enrich the soil. Flowers usually appear abundantly in the third year, and dead blossoms must be routinely pruned. 

Peonies are susceptible to sagging due to the weight of their blooms. To avoid this, gardeners can introduce metal support rings and frames early in the plant’s growing cycle.

Sunday, April 7, 2019

The Process of Parrot Rescue and Adoption


Idaho resident Nichole Thiel has extensive experience in multiple aspects of the state's public and private education system, including student support, administration, and athletics. Outside of her work, Nichole Thiel maintains a strong interest in animal rescue and adoption, especially for parrots and other exotic birds. 

Parrots are sensitive, sociable animals that require special care. Unfortunately, some untrained parrot owners may find themselves overwhelmed by the bird’s needs or financially unable to pay for the upkeep. Taking a parrot to a rescue center that specializes in parrot health and behavior is important. There, the bird can receive the attention and care it needs before it is adopted.

Most parrot rescues have a mandatory pre-adoption program to ensure that new parrot owners are equipped to care for the bird and pay for its expenses. Since many parrots do not adapt well to overly-active or noisy surroundings, the home environment is also inspected for suitability. If the person and the parrot are found to be a match, the new owner may sign an adoption agreement and promise to provide the bird with excellent care.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Project Leadership Helps Administrators Hone Essential Skills


An experienced educator and administrator, Nichole Thiel earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Idaho. To supplement her leadership training, Nichole Thiel attended a three-year program called Project Leadership.

Sponsored by the Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA), Project Leadership provides intensive training for persons serving in administrative roles. The academy provides participants with valuable opportunities for collaboration and learning. 

Project Leadership examines several topics throughout the course, including leadership styles, team development, communication skills, conflict management, legal issues, and technology. The program has been offered for more than 25 years and has trained more than 500 graduates.

The training is an essential component of IASA, an organization that provides leaders with the skills and support they need to run their schools effectively. In addition to professional development opportunities, IASA provides a legislative voice for educators in Idaho and recognizes administrators who have served their districts with excellence.