The Team

Nicole Merriott has lived in East Tennessee for twelve years with her husband Doug, their children, and her mother. Her family includes three biological boys and one adopted daughter.  Nicole recognizes the blessing of having her mother, who is a vital part of her family, available as an additional resource as she and her husband strive to create a strong, nurturing family.

            Nicole has volunteered with the Boys Scouts for about thirteen years.  Her responsibilities included teaching life skills and camping/wilderness skills and she has experience in managing summer camps.  From her work with children of all age groups, Nicole has realized her passion for watching and helping them grow physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Some of the children she met through scouts had special needs, and it was one of her greatest joys to see the excitement on their faces whenever they overcame a challenge and accomplished their goals.

            For the last eight years, Nicole has been working at a local elementary school as an instructional assistant. In this position, she has worked closely with students from diverse backgrounds and home lives.  Some students are fortunate to have a nurturing family life. However, others have experienced things that no child should have to experience, and yet these children come to school with a smile on their faces and readily give a hug to her.  Although Nicole recognizes that these children need the safe, nurturing environment they find in school, and that is her motivation for showing up to work every day, she is also keenly aware that children need a safe nurturing environment at home. And that is why Nicole is devoted to supporting foster families and children by serving on the Foster Village East TN Board.