Assistant principal begins her West Essex journey
Kimberly Westervelt, the school’s new assistant principal, says she’s finally found a place to call “home” after 16 years of working in schools around New Jersey. West Essex’s reputation for academic excellence and a family-like community drew her in, quickly making her another one of the very proud members of the district.
“This school has a really positive school climate,” Westervelt said. “From the top, the administrators respect their staff and care about what’s going on in the school, and the teachers and the staff members are happy to be here.”
The new member of West Essex’s Great Triumvirate works alongside Principal Caesar Diliberto and Assistant Principal Juliann Hoebee to keep the school safe and secure. Westervelt’s job focuses on checking up on the students and staff while handling discipline issues. These three members work together in an efficient manner, leaving Westervelt honored to complete the very amazing team.
“I can tell you that Mr. Diliberto and Ms. Hoebee are top notch professionals,” Westervelt said. “They are supportive, and they have embraced me as a team member. It’s really important when you work with a team that you all kind of gel together, and they’ve been great.”
As she makes her daily rounds through classrooms, Westervelt pays careful attention to herself and how she affects her surroundings. She has determination and says she takes pride in her leadership skills because she knows that her actions influence others.
“I look at my leadership style as a servant leader,” she said. “I’m here to serve the students, I’m here to serve the community, I’m here to serve the staff. People do not work for me; I’m working for them.”
Westervelt’s approachable smile makes it easy for anyone to chat with her about anything. Whether it’s about school or yoga or her family, her outgoing personality always shines through her words. Although she comes off as a laid back person, Ms. Westervelt takes on the role as an enforcer when duty calls.
“When it comes down to discipline, I don’t play,” she said. “I expect students to follow the rules, and if you break the rules, that’s a big problem.”
No matter how stern or intimidating her job may require her to be, when it comes to forming relationships with the West Essex family, she says, she always reminds herself about the better side of people.
“There’s always something positive that you can find in any situation that can help you get through the situation.”
Westervelt said she is optimistic for her future in the school and feels confident that this is where she was destined to be.
“I’m really looking forward to being here in West Essex,” she said. “I feel like I finally found my home.”