Nichola Madison Traul was born and raised in Fort Scott, Kansas. She is the daughter of Frank and Debbie Madison and grew up on her parent’s ranch north of Fort Scott with her six brothers and sisters. She is married to John Traul and they have a daughter, Jacinta, who is in the 1st grade at Jayhawk Elementary in Mound City. Nichola’s husband, John, is a vocational teacher at Jayhawk-Linn High School. John, Nichola and Jacinta live in rural Bourbon County where they raise cattle and horses.

Nichola graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1997. While a student at FSHS she was enrolled in concurrent classes at Fort Scott Community College. Upon graduating high school Nichola enrolled at FSCC where she was a cheerleader and a member of the dance team, a President’s ambassador and a work study in the admissions office. Nichola graduated from FSCC in 1999 and transferred to Pittsburg State University.

While at PSU, Nichola was on the Dean’s Honor roll all four semesters she was in attendance. She graduated from PSU in 2001 with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Nichola received her first job teaching in Hume, MO in 2001. In 2003 she became the junior high social science teacher in Uniontown, KS. While working in Uniontown USD 235 she returned to PSU and received her Master’s in Educational Leadership. In 2006, Nichola was hired as the Elementary Principal in USD 246 Northeast in Arma, KS. In 2008 she had the opportunity to take a job closer to home and to her family and she is currently the Elementary Principal in Pleasanton, KS.

During Nichola’s career she has been honored with receiving the Andy Tompkin’s Leadership Award. She has been a nominee for the Clyde U. Phillips Young Educator Award and is currently a member of the Greenbush Leadership Academy Executive Committee.