It was early afternoon on the morning of April 18 when Steinert High Resource Officer Bob Diszler told Principal Nate Webber they needed to check on a car in the parking lot. Once that was done, Diszler offered to buy Webber a cup of coffee since the two never had a chance to escape the building during the day.
After Diszler got some Wawa java and Webber an iced tea, a call came through as they turned onto Klockner Road, saying there was an emergency at the school.
“Nate says, ‘Aww, look at that, the one time we leave the building, and they need us,’” said Diszler, who proceeded to drive over the curb and up the walkway before depositing Webber at the school entrance by the gym.
Webber went tearing into the gym, where he was greeted by the entire student body packed into both bleachers, along with the entire faculty lining both ends of the arena. Cheerleaders were lined up on each side of a sign that blared out “Thank You Mr. Webber! Congrats!”
And that was Steinert’s way of honoring their first-year leader for being named the New Jersey Principal of the Year. The award came after Webber was nominated along with countless other principals, and his nomination form was recognized as the best by the state’s PTA organization.
The pep rally was Webber’s second surprise in three days. Vice Principal Lauren Dunaway informed him that he had to attend a mandatory banquet at the Crown Plaza in the Forrestal Center April 16. It was there he learned of his award.
Dunaway, her secretary Nancy Kasper and Diszler then set up the second big celebration.
“We got him,” Diszler said with a devious grin. “He didn’t have a clue.”
“He really pulled on over on me,” said Webber, who was thrilled, shocked and excited all at once. “They said someone was hurt and I came running in and now…all this. I’m really honored and humbled by this, and I just want to try to do a better job.”
That might be the toughest task Webber ever gave himself, considering the job he has already done.
After a lengthy career at Nottingham High, where he was a vice principal, teacher, athletic director and basketball coach, he became principal of McGalliard Elementary School for the past three years. When he arrived at Steinert last summer, Webber took over a building in which morale had bottomed out. Students and faculty had been miserable about coming to school ever since Kelly Mattis left in 2012. Throw in the fact that township teachers are working without a contract, and things were even grimmer.
But, much like Mary Poppins when she arrived at the Banks household, Webber opted for a spoonful of sugar to sweeten up the atmosphere. Showing his social media savvy, he adapted the Twitter hashtag of #SteinertPride.
“What Nate has done for the culture and climate of this school has been amazing,” said Tracy Quinn, who has taught history at Steinert for 19 years. “In a year when teachers have no contracts, with all of the increasing demands on teachers and endless standardized testing, the teachers at Steinert are more happy and committed than ever. The only difference this year is Nate.”
“He is like the Energizer Bunny,” said Jim Giglio, in his 28th year as a health and physical education teacher. “He is at every school event possible even if it is for a few minutes. After the teacher morale was at its lowest point the past few years, he uplifted everyone with his thoughtfulness, kindness and how much he cares about people.”
Nicole Caruso, in her eighth year as a history teacher, gets to interact with Webber on several levels.
“As the Student Government Advisor, it has been a pleasure to work with an administrator who values student involvement and promotes school spirit, pride, and character,” she said. “The students and staff have responded positively to his enthusiasm for Steinert Pride. There has been a huge increase in the amount of Spartans that are involved in school events.”
That attitude runs in the family, as Nicole’s husband feels the same way. Dan Caruso, a social studies teacher for the past 14 years as well as the school’s head football coach, said Webber’s impact was “almost immediate.”
“I am a big believer that if the staff isn’t on board with the direction of the school then it is not going to work,” Caruso said. “Mr. Webber realizes that this is a community and a family, not just a job. I can assure you that staff morale is the highest I have ever seen it.”
And not just for the people who are paid to be there.
“Mr. Webber also boosted student morale,” Dan Caruso said. “The kids know he cares about them and that can make all the difference in the world. School pride is on the rise, and the building has a positive feel to it. It is just a happier place to be.”
Jennifer Smith, a 16-year health and physical education teacher who is married Hamilton West principal Brian Smith, said the faculty doesn’t “dread walking into the main office anymore” and agreed that Webber’s spirit carries over to the students.
“The kids are well behaved, there’s no kids roaming the hallway,” she said. “They’re not trying to get one over on you. They know the expectations are set high, and they’re all pretty much there. It’s awesome. He just kind of picks you up if you’re having a bad time.”
The students’ reaction to Webber’s award bears that out.
During the Steinert baseball game later that day, scoreboard operator Gianna Ondersin was asked about her principal and she exclaimed, “I love Mr. Webber! He totally deserves it.”
Two of Steinert’s top students are seniors John McManimon and Yasmine Abed, who have both enjoyed the arrival of Webber. Both say they could not imagine a more deserving person to win the award.
Abed has a grade point average of 3.9 and is president of Student Government. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has served as president and vice president of the Key Club. She feels a principal should create an environment that students can learn in, and feels that Webber has gone “above and beyond the requirements a principal should have.”
“He puts the needs of the school before himself,” she said. “He doesn’t sit in his office all day, secluded from his students and staff. He’s in the halls making sure everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing, or simply just saying, ‘Hi how are you doing?’ It’s the little things, but they mean so much to everyone.”
Abed calls Webber a “great leader and motivator” and is a big fan of his daily morning announcements in which he starts the day off with a motivational quote. “He makes sure to attend games, award ceremonies, banquets, shows. Anything with Steinert’s name on it, he tries his best to make it out to it, whether he stays for ten minutes or the entire time.”
McManimon is a straight-A student with a 4.41 weighted GPA who has been in school musicals, written for the school paper and volunteered for the Wayne DeAngelo/Dan Benson campaign last summer. He feels the role of the principal is vital to a student’s educational experience.
“My ideal principal would be someone who disciplines appropriately, but isn’t unapproachable,” said McManimon, who is envious of underclassmen that have future years with Webber. “A principal should be someone who enforces the rules but retains a friendly personality that students can truly connect with. Mr. Webber has succeeded as an exceptional principal because he fulfills these requirements.
“He encourages everybody to follow the Steinert Pride mission statement, and if he discovers someone is not abiding by the mission statement, he makes it a priority to track them down and motivate them. At first, it was somewhat of a culture shock to have a principal that cared to that degree.”
It is a trickle down effect. Webber cares about the teachers, and the teachers care about the students.
“I think he changed the dynamic of the teaching staff and the students at the same time with his positivity and positive comments every morning,” health and physical education teacher Adam Jankos said.
Dunaway, who worked at Nottingham when Webber was vice principal, was thrilled to be able to set up the school celebration. She also invited current and former Nottingham principals Frank Ragazzo and Mike Giambelluca, who worked closely with Webber when he was at the other end of Klockner Road.
“From the very beginning he just inspired everyone, including myself,” Dunaway said. “Not only is he motivating the kids, but the teachers and everyone who works in the building. Morale has doubled. It’s really nice to come in in the morning, see your staff smiling; the kids saying hello and just wanting to be here every day.”
That could well be Webber’s greatest accomplishment. Some principals worry about the students at the expense of the teachers; others back the teachers and students get lost in the shuffle. In this case, teachers and students, as well as custodians and secretaries and even sneaky resource officers are all swept up in Webber’s wave of positive energy.
“Nate has been a tremendous and positive influence on the entire school community,” said social studies chairperson Bill James, a 22-year veteran of Steinert. “He truly appreciates all of the faculty, staff and students. The entire school culture has changed for the better.”
The appreciation all came pouring out at Webber’s pep rally. The students all chanted “Mis-ter Web-ber!” The band played, the step team did some numbers, the school choir sang and the cheerleaders and dance team performed. Webber made a speech thanking everyone and accepting little credit, and then provided closing comments.
In between, he spoke of what his goals were when he took over at Steinert.
“Just to make sure all stakeholders—parents, teachers, students—never quit and we all do the best we can,” he said. “Everybody has talents, but it means the most to be a community, a family. You have to help each other succeed.”
In recent years, no one has provided a greater help to Steinert than the reigning New Jersey Principal of the Year. Just call him Nate the Great.
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