Jon Nichols hopes to continue his calling by serving on the Board of Education 

HOUSTON COUNTY — Life-long Houston County resident Jon Nichols is seeking reelection to serve on the Houston County Board of Education Post 4. Nichols attended several schools in the area and graduated from Northside High School in 1982.  

After graduating, he moved away from Houston County for a few years. Nichols came back in 1989 and has been in the area ever since. He married his wife, Laura, in 1992 and they have two sons, Zachary and Cory. Both graduated from Northside High School. 

Nichols’ public service journey started in 1996. He said Northside High School Football Coach at the time, Conrad Nix, asked Nichols to join the Executive Committee of the Booster Club for the high school. Nichols is in his third term as Booster Club President and is going on his fourth year as Booster Club President for the Northside High School Football Team. He also served on the high school’s school council for seven years. 

Recently, Nichols was also inducted into the Class of 2026 Northside High School Hall of Fame for his dedication to the school and community as a whole. 

When he’s not serving on the Board, Nichols has worked as the Service Center Manager at Bughouse Pest Control for the past 14 years. 

Nichols’ inspiration to serve goes way back. Back in the fifth grade, he was the Optimist Student of the Month and said he got to sit in Henrietta McIntyre’s seat on the City of Warner Robins City Council. 

“[That moment] gave me the want to to serve my community, [Warner Robins] which I love greatly and Houston County,” he said. “I’m a servant at heart and most people call me a servant leader.” 

Nichols took that servant leadership and served on the Centerville City Council from 2012 to 2016. He said he worked very hard for the city and learned a great deal from his experience on the council. Nichols then ran for the Warner Robins City Council twice, unsuccessfully, which he said was God telling him the City of Warner Robins was not where he needed to serve. 

Around late 2020, a friend of Nichols told him a group of people wanted to encourage him to run for the Board of Education. He said the Board of Education just updated its district mapping. Before, he was in Dr. Rick Unruh’s district. 

He and his wife talked and prayed about running, and on the last day of qualification, he put his name in the hat to serve on the Houston County Board of Education. He ran unopposed. 

“I want to serve because I love Warner Robins, Centerville, Perry, Houston County, Georgia and Middle Georgia,” he said. “I really care because people cared about me. I want to give back and let everyone in Houston County know there are people who truly care, love and want them to succeed just like I have had the opportunity.”

Nichols still believes he is not done serving on the Board and that it should continue. 

“Dr. Ricky Rogers has come in now and has taken the bull by the horns, and we really have a great Board of Education and school district,” he said. “I believe we can still be the best in the state and we’re striving to get there. Together, we do that and work hard to make sure we do the right things for Houston County, Georgia.” 

If reelected, Nichols wants to make sure the legacy schools in the district are protected, including Miller, Parkwood and Westside Elementary; Warner Robins and Northside High Schools; and Huntington Middle and Pearl Stephens Elementary. He said Houston County would not be where it is today without those schools. 

“I’m that guy that is going to make sure that those [schools] are not forgotten,” he said. “I’m going to make sure not only Veterans and Houston County High School get the best of the best, but also that Warner Robins and Northside High School get the best of the best and Perry of course. For the county itself, we have the best five high schools in the State of Georgia.” 

Nichols’ leadership style may have changed in recent years; however, Nichols said he listens well and takes every decision seriously. 

“I pray about it, think about it and figure out what’s best for where we are right now,” he said. “My leadership style is to do it the right way, make sure we’re doing it as efficiently as possible and make sure we’re all on the same page as it’s not about [me].” 

Nichols hopes to keep doing what he’s doing if reelected to the Board of Education for the last three and a half years. 

“I’m going to be that person that asks the hard questions and makes sure if I don’t know something I’m gonna ask that question,” he said. “I have to answer to God, my wife, my boys then everybody else. If I don’t answer in that direction then I’m doing it all wrong, and that’s what’s made me the leader I am today.” 

Nichols described himself as “your next door neighbor” and someone who will stand up for you and always take care of everyone, not just himself. 

“I’m the guy that’s going to listen,” he said. “They should vote for me because if they want the guy that’s going to take care of them and their family, then [I’m] the one to vote for.” 

Jon Nichols is running for the Houston County Board of Education Post 4 and will be going up against Sheila Ashley. The General Primary Election is May 19.