Principal's Message

Ms. Shanklin is very excited to serve as Belleville's first ever Remote School #1 Principal, for students in grades PK-12! She knows it will be a different experience for all, but she welcomes the opportunity. Ms. Shanklin always has an open door policy and although it may be a virtual door this year, she is always there for her Belleville community, especially during this time of transition.

Ms. Shanklin joined the Belleville team in November 2018. Prior to working in Belleville, she was a K-12 Supervisor of Instruction, working with all levels of learners in multiple subject areas. Ms. Shanklin originally began her career as a High School English Language Arts teacher, teaching all levels from inclusion to Advanced Placement. Before entering the field of education, Ms. Shanklin attended The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for her BA in English and Secondary Education. She then went on to receive her Masters in English from TCNJ, her Supervisory certificate and Masters in Educational Leadership from William Paterson University (WPUNJ), and her School Administrator certificate from Caldwell University.

Currently, Ms. Shanklin is enrolled in Centenary University's Doctorate of Educational Leadership (Ed.D) program. She is also concurrently pursuing her Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL) through Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.

For the 2020-2021 school year, Ms. Shanklin will serve in multiple roles:

School #1 Principal for grades PK-12
3rd year as Director of Elementary Education for grades K-6
3rd year as ESL Coordinator for grades K-6

Last year, she also helped to oversee the preschool program in its first year of expansion. From her previous experiences as a Supervisor of Instruction, she brings a wealth of knowledge in various programs. Most recently, she worked extensively with elementary school teachers to improve reading comprehension and writing through the workshop model. She looks forward to continuing to cultivate a love of learning with the faculty and staff, parents, students, and Belleville community as a whole. Ms. Shanklin strongly believes in the importance of curriculum and instruction, and she finds literacy to be the backbone for all subjects, including math and science. She is a Google Certified Educator and, therefore, loves infusing technology and 21st century skills into the curriculum. Students come first; therefore, Ms. Shanklin is continuously looking for ways to improve student growth and learning. Her main philosophy in life is to motivate and inspire others through modeling and leading by example.

Ms. Shanklin is married and currently resides in Nutley with her husband. When she is not immersed in a good book or curriculum article, she is hiking or playing with her rescue puppy, Dash.