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Conference Host
Nicola Maxwell-Johnson is a devoted servant of God, passionate educator, and advocate for the empowerment and holistic development of others. Her greatest desire is to honor the Lord through humble service while fulfilling her purpose of impacting lives through education, ministry, and mentorship.
Originally from the beautiful island of Jamaica, Nicola began her formal teaching career in 2006 and has since accumulated over two decades of experience in education at both the secondary and tertiary levels. Her journey in education began even earlier in 2002 when she served as a Teacher’s Aide at Walker’s Wood All-Age School. After completing her teacher training, she taught Spanish at Ocho Rios High School for seven years, where she inspired a love for languages among her students and helped many achieve success in CSEC and CAPE examinations. She later transitioned to the tertiary level as a Spanish lecturer at Moneague College, where she served with distinction for eight years.
Nicola holds a Diploma in Education (Spanish and Linguistics) from Shortwood Teachers’ College and earned a Bachelor of Education in Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish) with Honours and a Master of Arts in Teacher Education and Professional Development with Distinction from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She has also completed specialized training in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language through programs at universities in Chile and Colombia and holds an endorsement to teach English as a Second Language from Winthrop University in South Carolina.
Throughout her career, Nicola has contributed to national and regional educational development. She has served as a CSEC Spanish Assistant Examiner for Paper 2 and an Oral Examiner. She also once served as Regional Coordinator for Region 3 of the National Association of Teachers of Spanish in Jamaica. Her commitment to cultural development was also reflected in her role as a judge for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s Festival Queen Competition in St. Ann.
Nicola’s excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including Jamaica’s Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Academic Excellence in 2010 and the University of the West Indies Faculty of Humanities and Education Award for the Most Outstanding Bachelor of Education Online Student in 2010. Earlier in her journey, she was crowned St. Ann’s Festival Queen in 2007.
Beyond academia, Nicola is an ordained minister. Her passion for ministry has taken her on missionary journeys across Central and South America and East Africa, where she shares the love of Christ and ministers to communities around the world. In February 2022, she founded
Women of Power Improving Nicely (W.I.N.)
, a growing movement dedicated to the holistic growth, healing, and empowerment of women.
Nicola also has an entrepreneurial spirit and owns an online business called
Bibles n Nice Tings
. She also is a highly sought after visa preparer. She is known for keenly preparing visa applications for clients who wish to travel to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. A philanthropist at heart, she is deeply committed to charitable initiatives and supporting the less fortunate.
Now residing in South Carolina, Nicola continues to teach Spanish while balancing her roles as an educator, pastor, conference host, mentor, and leader. She is the proud mother of two beautiful children, Joelle and Judah.
Outside of her professional and ministerial responsibilities, Nicola finds joy in spending quality time with her family, traveling the world, mentoring others, and enjoying quiet moments in the presence of God. Her life’s mission is to be a beacon of light and to inspire others to become the best version of themselves - just as God intended.
Chalene 'Money Coach' Tilbanie
