De Nicholas was raised in Derby, Kansas, and graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1983.  She married Steven Nicholas in 1983 and taught 5th grade and 7th grade reading in her hometown for thirteen years while raising her two daughters.  In 2001, De and her family moved to the Atlanta, Georgia, area where De taught 6th grade social studies and 8th grade language for 5 years.  While there, De completed graduate studies and earned a gifted teaching endorsement.  In 2006, she left public education and joined the staff of two Christian pre-k schools where she was lead PM pre-k teacher.  During the summer of 2011, De's husband accepted a transfer to Lexington Park with his company, Lockheed martin.  Both daughters remain in Georgia where they are finishing their educations at Kennesaw State University.