Changing Of Guard At Kelly School: New Principal In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — It won’t be easy to fill the shoes of retired Kelly Elementary School principal Joanne Pollara. But if anyone’s got the talent, it’s Joel Castillo, administrators say.

Last week, Castillo was named the new principal of Kelly Elementary. The Hackettstown resident has 15 years of experience in the educational field.

According to district administrators, his background includes:

“[Castillo] graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Rochester, an MA in Childhood Education and Instruction, and an Ed.S in School Leadership from Seton Hall University. He holds a N.J. Standard Principal Certification, N.J. Standard Elementary Education Certification, and N.Y. Childhood Education Certification. His teaching background is primarily in private schools, where he served as Principal at St. Bartholomew Academy and The Academy of Our Lady of Peace.”

West Orange administrators continued:

“While at Our Lady of Peace, [Castillo] spearheaded the school’s efforts to achieve the 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence distinction. He wrote curriculum, developed STEM programming and data-driven Professional Development, and integrated technology into the student learning experience. As Vice-Principal at All Saints Academy, Castillo, who is multilingual (English, Spanish, and French) also served as World Languages Supervisor and initiated language programs across all grade levels.”

Castillo is already at work to prepare for the opening of Kelly Elementary to students and provide consistency in the virtual learning process.

• See related article: West Orange Petition Supports School Reopening: 'Stay The Course'

“We all want to see our kids in school, but only if it’s done effectively and safely,” he stated, adding that one of his primary goals is to “provide stability and consistency” for students, families and staff.

“My office door is always open to students, to families, and to staff, and the staff here at Kelly is wonderful,” he said. “They have been so supportive to me as well.”

When asked about some of the things he may have on his “wish list,” Castillo said he would like to see more academic support during the summer and more extracurricular programs at the elementary level. He cited programs like chess, robotics, cooking, basketball, and even “Hogwart’s soccer” that he initiated at his previous schools, some of them even held in the evening.

“Being successful in education is multi-tiered,” Castillo said. “People have different plans and different ideas. For some, it may be getting straight A’s or developing organizational skills. For another, it may be getting to school on time. Everyone has their own level of success, and appreciating that is the key to supporting them.”

“Education is critical for people to be better citizens and know their strengths to help others,” Castillo said.

• See related article: West Orange Principal Retires After 37 Years, Leaves ‘Legacy of Kindness’

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