Founder of Teacher Leader Masterclass
Cory Nikkel is passionate about growing people, especially the educators who shape the next generation. As an experienced teacher, instructional coach, and high school principal, Cory has walked the halls, sat in the meetings, and lived out the leadership that comes with serving in Christian education.
He created the Teacher Leader Masterclass because he believes the best teachers shouldn’t be overlooked or burned out. They should be invested in and raised up.
That belief is personal. Cory’s leadership journey began in second grade, when his AAU basketball coach looked him in the eye and said, “You’re the biggest guy out there. Do it right, and the rest of the team will follow.” That moment sparked a leadership trajectory that followed him through high school, college, and into the classroom.
By age 23, he was leading a curriculum redesign for his school’s English department. Not because he had the most experience, but because his principal saw something in him: natural leadership. But like many teachers asked to lead, Cory hadn’t been trained for it. So he made mistakes, learned lessons the hard way, and eventually began seeking out intentional growth experiences that could take him further, faster.
Along the way, a question began to form: Why do we keep asking teachers to lead without ever training them how? That question, and the desire to answer it, sparked the Teacher Leader Masterclass.
A leader who’s been there
Whether he’s pouring into his own faculty, coaching school leaders around the nation, speaking at conferences, or having a hallway conversation with a student who needs encouragement, Cory leads with authenticity, clarity, and Christ at the center.
He designed the Teacher Leader Masterclass to offer what he wished he had years ago: hands-on, customized leadership development designed for real impact inside school walls. This program is about walking with high-impact teachers through a yearlong journey of transformation, community, and growth.
Founder of Grow Your People, LLC
In 2025, Cory launched Grow Your People, LLC to equip educators, school leaders, and faith-driven professionals with tools for intentional leadership. The Teacher Leader Masterclass is its first flagship initiative, built to scale impact without sacrificing mission.