New Assistant Principal passionate about upcoming school year

A few weeks ago, Assistant Principal Dr. Jeff Wagner announced he will not be returning for the 2016-2017 school year, as he will be taking the position of Principal at Bellevue East High School. After a long process with many candidates, the position for a new assistant principal was filled.

Freshmen Dean Aaron Bredenkamp was selected as the new assistant principal last week. Bredenkamp was overwhelmed with excitement when he found out he got the position. He “loved being a dean, but this position has even more meaning to is career.”

“I became an administrator to make an impact on teachers as well as students,” Bredenkamp said, “and I think by stepping up into the role as assistant principal I can make an even greater impact on teachers and students lives than I could as a dean.”

Although applying for the position “wasn’t very difficult,” it was certainly reflective on the applicants who applied for the position. Many questions and interviews were involved in the process.

“There were many questions you had to answer, you had to get letters of recommendation and write your own sort of cover letter,” Bredenkamp said. “so a lot of that comes with being reflective and making sure that I shared the attributes that I thought I could bring to the position.”

Becoming the assistant principal for Bredenkamp means getting more involved in the classroom setting and a non-disciplinary atmosphere. He gets to be more involved in the curriculum of the classes that Westside has to offer, than simply the discipline conversations.

The excitement of moving into a higher administrative position also comes with learning new things. Bredenkamp plans to bring new things to the table while still following the ways of Wagner to help him along the way.

“Certainly learning some of the things that Dr. Wagner did in that position and making sure I am using them effectively. My main goal is just to be more visible and more involved in the classroom” Bredenkamp said.

The excitement Bredenkamp had when he found out he got the position was overwhelming for him. It is something he is very passionate about, so when he found out he got the position he was ecstatic.

“It was like winning the wheel of fortune” Bredenkamp said.