The Westfield Public School District will welcome two new administrators this summer. At its regular public meeting on June 25, the Board of Education approved the appointment of Jada Cole as Assistant Principal at Edison Intermediate School, effective July 1. At its June 11 meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Kathleen Nesheiwat for the new position of Supervisor of Elementary Student Support Services for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, effective July 24.
At Edison, Cole will succeed Jacqueline Spring, who was recently appointed as an assistant principal at Westfield High School. During the past two years Cole served as Director of Special Services for the Irvington Public School District and as Assistant Principal at Irvington High School. From 2004-2022, she held various positions in special education, including Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC), Case Manager, and Special Education / Resource Teacher in the New Brunswick, Franklin Township, and Newark Public Schools.
“Ms. Cole was selected from 140 applicants for this position and after multiple rounds of interviews,” says Edison Principal LaNova Schall. “During her interviews, Ms. Cole presented as confident, poised, knowledgeable, and committed to being a forward-thinking school leader who understands the importance of building strong relationships to foster a highly-effective learning environment for all students.”
Schall adds: “Ms. Cole provided the interview committee with exciting and innovative ideas for enhancing the climate and culture of Edison Intermediate School, while leveraging her extensive knowledge of special education.”
Cole holds a Master of Arts in Urban Education and Administration and a Master of Arts in Special Education from New Jersey City University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration / Computer Information Systems from Thomas Edison State College in 2001.
“What attracted me to the Westfield Public School District was the district’s mission statement of embracing diversity and educating all students to reach their highest potential. This has been my philosophy for the past 22 years in education with a humble beginning as a special education teacher,” says Cole. “I was especially intrigued by the Edison Intermediate School motto encouraging students to be courageous, have faith, and move forward, which I believe is a lesson that everyone needs to understand in life in order to reach their goals.”
Nesheiwat joins the Westfield Public School District, following a year as Acting Assistant Director of Pupil and Personnel Services in the Madison Public School District, where she also served as a School Psychologist and Child Study Team member from 2018-2023.
“Ms. Nesheiwat has an impressive background in education and administration,” says Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services Dr. Michael Weissman. “She began her career as a pre-kindergarten teacher in Newark, where she laid a strong foundation for her subsequent roles. She then pursued her certification as a school psychologist, bringing her expertise to Madison Public Schools as a preschool and elementary case manager. In this role, she worked closely with Early Intervention Services to assist families transitioning into the public school system, demonstrating her ability to support and guide young learners and their families effectively.”
Weissman notes that, during her five years at the Central Avenue School in Madison, Nesheiwat “contributed significantly to the growth and development of Madison’s half-day and full-day preschool disabilities programming and the Special Class Autism program.”
Of her previous professional experience, Nesheiwat says she is “most proud of helping to expand robust special education programs, including Autism classes, as well as supporting initiatives to promote inclusive practices.”
“Social emotional learning is also a particular professional interest, because education that neglects to teach children about mental health, relationship management, and emotional well-being is inadequate, especially in this post-pandemic era. I am excited to bring my ideas to the Westfield Public Schools and to provide support to teachers, service providers, and parents to meet the needs of each individual student,” Nesheiwat adds.
The addition of a second supervisor to support the Special Programs and Student Support Services Department was approved by Westfield voters in April, as part of the 2024-2025 school district operating budget. Nesheiwat will join the district’s current Pre-K-12 Supervisor of Special Education Alex Linden, who was Board approved on June 11 as Supervisor of Secondary Student Support Services for Grades 6-12.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Cole and Ms. Nesheiwat to our leadership team,” says Superintendent Dr. Raymond González. “During the extensive interview process, both candidates demonstrated that they possess the skills, experience, and dedication necessary to excel in their new roles.”