District names new NBTHS assistant principal
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

Jason Lester

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Jason Lester will assume the post of assistant principal for the junior class at North Brunswick Township High School beginning July 1.

Lester entered the field of education in 1992 after a career as a private investigator. He began at Palisades Learning Center in Paramus, a school for youth with emotional problems. He then worked as a math and English teacher in the Plainfield public school district, where he also ran an alternative program at the middle school level and created the Alpha Academy, the high school version of the program. He is currently a vice principal at the Abraham Clark High School in Roselle.

"I was called to do it," he said of entering the field of education. "Throughout my life I was called to special education students, and I just worked really well with that population."

Lester was first inspired when he was a junior and senior in high school, when the older students would take sixthgraders on a camping trip. His junior year he worked directly with a group of special education students, who he felt were being discriminated against because of their disabilities. He said he spoke to them about the image they need to project, and how not to let society's perception of them become a reality.

He said he was proudest when his group placed first in a spelling bee.

"That really ignited the flames for me in terms of education," the West Orange resident said.

The 40-year-old administrator said he was contacted about the North Brunswick position by a few people, and said he considered applying because "I like the diversity here. I think this is a progressive school district."

Principal Brian Brotschul said Lester was one of 250 original applicants, all of whom Brotschul screened personally. The most promising 21 candidates were then screened by two administrators, who in turn handed a candidate pool of seven people over to a five-member panel from the high school. The panel then recommended three candidates for Brotschul to meet with, and he chose Lester as his No. 1 recommendation to the superintendent.

"I am very thankful Dr. [Brian] Zychowski and the full Board [of Education] supported Mr. Lester," Brotschul said.

The two-month process led to Lester's appointment April 30 because, Brotschul said, "I think the diversity in

his experiences was a big factor.

I felt this position needed a jack-of-all-trades … and he has a proven track record of working with a very challenging population and I felt he would be a seamless transition at the high school."

Another key deciding factor was Brotschul's goal of formulating a differently structured school day, and Lester's knowledge of smaller learning communities and "being able to navigate the process of change with a large faculty and a large community base," the principal said.

Lester said he is "excited" about the opportunities and challenges North Brunswick brings, and he "wants [the high school] to be a model for New Jersey."

"Under the tutelage of Mr. Brotschul, I think I can make that happen," he said.

His goals are to make every student a productive member of society, to create opportunities for staff and students to excel, and to stabilize an administrative team.

"I have already been greeted with open arms. I'm anxious to get in here and show people how hard I work. I'm very excited," he said.

Lester and his wife, Wren, have a 12- year-old sixth-grader, Erin. Lester is also a West Orange Planning Board member and coaches softball and basketball for his daughter.

Lester is replacing Louis Emanuel, the supervisor of special education, who became the interim assistant principal when Brotschul was promoted from assistant principal to principal.

"Mr. Emanuel served this high school in an outstanding fashion and he has proven himself as an effective administrator and a successful administrator," Brotschul said.