Nelson Named Assistant Principal,
Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield
At a July 29 Westfield Board of Education meeting, Derrick Nelson was unanimously named Assistant Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School. The appointment, effective August 16, will fill the position previously held by Matthew Bolton, who was recently named Principal of McKinley Elementary School in Westfield.
Nelson brings experience as an assistant principal of intermediate school students in the Orange, NJ public schools. He served most recently as an assistant principal in the city’s K-7 Park Avenue School and previously at the K-8 Main Street School in Orange where he oversaw the operation and coordination of the Small Learning Communities for the middle school grades. He conducted classroom observations, managed building operations and building personnel, implemented disciplinary procedures, instituted a Language Arts task force, and analyzed test scores and assisted teachers to target specific areas of weakness in student test results. Prior to his administrative experience, Nelson was an elementary teacher at the Pre-K – 6 Washington Community School in Plainfield, NJ from 2002-2007.
Nelson earned a Master of Arts degree in Education Administration from Saint Peter’s College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Delaware State University. He is currently enrolled in a doctorate program in Education Administration at Seton Hall University.
Nelson has also served as a Sergeant in the Armed Forces.
Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School, Stewart Carey, commented, “I am very pleased to have Derrick Nelson joining the RIS staff as the new assistant principal. His previous experience as an assistant principal in Orange and his volunteer work in the Summit Schools show his commitment to the education of children.”
“Additionally, his enrollment in the doctoral program at Seton Hall and his service as a Sergeant in the Armed Forces evidence a well-rounded individual who will be a positive influence on the students, staff, and families at Roosevelt,” stated Carey.
In commenting on his new appointment, Nelson stated, “I look forward to spending time and getting to know the wonderful staff, students and parents of Roosevelt Intermediate School. Creating collaborative relationships with all of the stakeholders of an organization has been a skill that has served me well as a soldier and assistant principal. The opportunity to work in such a great community like Westfield is the dream of any administrator."
More than 150 candidates applied for the position. The interview team for the Assistant Principal’s position included Human Resources Specialist, Barbara Ball; Roosevelt Principal, Stewart Carey; K-12 Social Studies Supervisor, Andrea Brennan; K-12 Mathematics Supervisor, Regina Kiczek; Roosevelt teachers Melissa Czerwinski (Science) and Denis McMorrow (Language Arts); Roosevelt Guidance Counselor, Kim Schumacher; Assistant Principal of Edison Intermediate School, Doug Layman; and Co-Presidents of the Roosevelt PTO, Barbara Bagger and Marie Sloan.
