Celebrating 21 Years of Dedication: Honoring Nick Linscott
“I always tell the boys, I don’t expect perfection, but I do demand your best effort.”
Congratulations to our Math Teacher, Nick Linscott, on reaching a major milestone … 21 years as part of the Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS) staff!
As our longest-tenured employee, Nick has played an integral role in shaping the school since joining in 2004, just a year after its founding. Since opening in 2003, CCBS has served over 500 students. Remarkably, Nick has had the distinction of working with all but two of them! His impact on generations of students is immeasurable.
Nick Discovers Cherokee Creek Boys School
“I enjoyed nature and the change of scenery. In 2004, I heard about Cherokee Creek, a school for students who didn’t necessarily fit into the regular education system. That resonated with me because I felt like a teacher who didn’t quite fit into the regular education system either. I asked if they needed a teacher, but at the time, they had only seven students and one teacher. So, I started on the second shift, gaining great experience. As CCBS grew, I transitioned into teaching math and science, and eventually, I focused solely on math.”
Honoring Nick’s Commitment to CCBS and His Students
“Nick, he has taught all of us many things, including how important it is to have a job where the mission of the organization lines up with your personal values. He also brings a sense of calm, reliability and consistency which makes him easy to trust. And we joke that Nick holds a record that will probably never be broken for most “chores” completed, which has earned him the nickname – THE Chore Guru!”
At the presentation the students expressed their appreciation for Nick. Many of them thanked him for holding them accountable and helping them grow.
Nick’s Favorite Memories, Moments and Experiences at CCBS
Each Boy is an Individual
“In my classroom, I call it the ‘rolling chair approach’. I move around, helping each student one-on-one, making the adjustments that each student needs to learn, grown and succeed.”
A Strong Foundation
“Yes, the school has grown and changed … but the more things change, the more they stay the same. CCBS still has a big heart and cares more than ever about each student.”
The CCBS Team
“We’ve always had a talented and dedicated staff who have taken the CCBS vision and expanded on it. The Medicine Wheel … Truth, Wisdom, Love and Courage … has always been our foundation. Over the years, we’ve deepened that journey, making it even more meaningful and sophisticated for the students. A lot of our staff have been at CCBS many years. Having experienced team members means continuous improvement and we have a deeper insight into shaping the future.”
The Early Days
“At the beginning, we didn’t have a school van or any transportation, so all of our hikes started from the lodge. The only decision was whether to hike north or south! As the school grew, we still had a small number of students, but we did get a van for transport and we could do some spontaneous adventures! One morning on the news I saw that a WWII B-17 bomber would be on display in Greenville. I told our Director and my fellow teacher and we decided to seize the opportunity. We loaded up the students, drove over and explored a B-17. It was an unforgettable experience!”
Exploring the World
“Today, CCBS students and families have access to a broader world via the Family Center. Family Treks, field trips to national sites (such as Washington DC) and even international trips such as the trip to Italy have expanded learning opportunities.”
The Star of the LEGO League
Nick has proudly led the school’s award-winning LEGO team for 20 years.
One of his favorite moments was when CCBS won the State Championship Teamwork Award in the LEGO competition at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum, and this year when he won the LEGO coaching award at the tournament.
Challenges We’ve Faced
“One of the greatest challenges I recall was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. We were in uncharted waters, but CCBS demonstrated creativity and smart leadership. For example, buying a mobile home to use as a quarantine area, ensuring a safe return for students who had been visiting their families off campus. It worked out really well.”
Lessons Learned
“Over the past 21 years, I’ve gained invaluable insights. I pretty much know all of the tricks kids try to pull, but I’ve also learned incredible patience. Working here has taught me to dig deep. Over the years, it has become easier. And I had to learn to embrace self-care. You have to take your own time-outs and practice all the things that we teach the boys including being open to outcome.”
Nick’s Mantra
“I always tell the boys, I don’t expect perfection, but I do demand your best effort.”
Most Proud of …
“… the Math Program! It has become a ‘Niche Within a Niche’. It truly serves our students and we strive to make it engaging and fun with hands-on projects and activities. Peer teaching is a great example. The students who excel at math get the opportunity to ‘teach’ their classmates. Sometimes those students are diagnosed on the spectrum. For them, or any student, teaching a peer can build confidence and develop social skills, which are just as important as academics.”
“My favorite thing about Nick is his expansive knowledge beyond math, which he freely shares with the students and staff. I enjoy hearing his conversations at lunch with guys who like to sit with Nick. He is a role model reminding us not only to show up and be present in the classroom but also in life.”
– Nancy Terry, CCBS Therapist
A Tribute to Leadership and Teamwork
Nick credits much of CCBS’s success to its strong leadership and dedicated staff.
“CCBS Executive Director David Le Pere’s leadership has been remarkable. He has created an environment that allows staff to work together with a real focus on each child. He lives the CCBS values and encourages all of us to help the boys discover what is real and true in their lives and the world around them.”
And the story of how our founders, Beth and Ron Black, built this school from the ground up is a true example of patience and trust and is an ongoing inspiration. Beth always reminds the team: “We are the lesson.”
A THANK YOU to NICK from CCBS FOUNDER, BETH BLACK
“Nick has navigated the highs and lows, the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows of a start-up school and saw us through to the excellent standings we have today. I know it wasn’t easy, but Nick stuck with us for 21 years and has always been a steady influence on our students and our staff. He is not one to seek the spotlight, just going about his business on behalf of the boys.
Nick was a dedicated Boy Scout. I always think of him as an example of the 12 principles a Boy Scout lives by: ‘A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” He lives his life ethically and in tune with his values … and the values that we teach in the Medicine Wheel (Truth, Wisdom, Love and Courage) … which is something to be truly proud of.
He is the first one to celebrate the boys’ wins at LEGO League or to shed a tear at graduation. Nick is ‘the real deal’, a role model of our mission and values. The world would be a better place with a few more Nicks in it!”
– Beth Black, Founder
“Nick Linscott’s influence on my life has been significant. He is the main reason I value wilderness, Native Americans and American history; he is, without a doubt, the most impactful and influential teacher l’ve ever had. I still use the knowledge that I have learned through his teachings to this day.”
— Jonathan, CCBS Alumni | Graduate 2004
Nick, on behalf of all the lives that you have impacted over the years … thank you for your unwavering dedication, passion and commitment to CCBS.
Here’s to many more years of inspiring and guiding students!
“Nick has a special ability to teach valuable life lessons in different ways. His approach is adaptable to every single student he interacts with, but it always sticks. Nick may not come across as comedic at first glance, but he’s absolutely hilarious. He also does not hold grudges. Of all the grief I gave him and put him through as a young teenager at the school, he was always willing to forgive me and help me move past it (until the next time)! He is an astonishingly honorable man and I still look forward to connecting with him from time to time. In my opinion, Nick Linscott is a large part of why Cherokee Creek has been so successful and the ONLY program I went to as a teenager that I still want to be a part of.
Nick with CCBS Graduates, Jonathan and Nate, and Jeremy Nunnelly (CCBS teacher from CCBS opening team) at the CCBS 20th Anniversary Party in 2023.
Nick, thank you for making such an impact in my life. Small things that may have seemed insignificant to you made a large impression on me. You were one of the few adults in my childhood that managed to get through to me and didn’t give up, even when it would have been warranted! I’ll never forget when you made me spit outside on the plants for an hour because I kept spitting on the hike we went to. Keep up the great work and just know what an amazing guy you are and how many lives you have improved.”
— Nate, CCBS Alumni | Graduate 2004
“I love Nick’s work ethic, friendliness and how knowledgeable he is about so many things! One of the best things he brings to Cherokee Creek is setting a high standard of quality in everything that he does. And Nick taught me something very important … ‘to have a friend, you’ve gotta be a friend!’”
– Kayla Thompkins, CCBS Clinical Director