My name is Sabrina Westdijk, and I am honored to serve out the remainder of the ‘23-’24 school year as BHS’s Interim Principal!
I came to BHS this year after serving as an administrator at Edmunds Middle School for three years. Prior to entering administration, I was a high school English Language Arts teacher for fourteen years. A native Texan, I have spent parts of my life in just about every region of the country, and I taught in Arkansas and Oregon prior to relocating to Vermont in 2012. I am also a 2017 Rowland Fellow; my fellowship work centered on developing effective, student-centered professional learning communities to support proficiency-based teaching and learning. I believe in the project of education and its possibilities.
Throughout my career as an educator, mentor, and coach, I’ve sought to center equity, service, collaboration, and relationships. I believe that the fundamental purpose of educational leadership is to establish the conditions that allow all learners (both students and adults) to thrive. As someone who feels passionate about developing sustainable systems and supporting a culture of continuous growth, I feel honored to now be part of the BHS community.
This year has already been a uniquely challenging one. Our students, staff and families have shown incredible resilience, creativity, and compassion, and it has been wonderful to start to build relationships with these talented and committed folks. I am deeply invested in serving this learning community, not only professionally but personally: Burlington is my home, my daughter and stepson attend school in BSD, and I look forward to being here for many years to come.
When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and writing fiction, tending my ever-expanding vegetable and flower gardens, baking bread and pastries, and getting outside with my dog. I’m also trying, with what can be best described as “intermittent dedication”, to become a runner.
BHS Leadership Team
- Sabrina Westdijk, Interim Principal – swestdij@bsdvt.org
- Sara Crothers, Interim Assistant Principal – scrother@bsdvt.org
- Jada Payea, Interim Assistant Principal – jpayea@bsdvt.org
- KasCandra Dougherty, Director of Counseling – kdougher@bsdvt.org
- Molly Doran, Dean of Students – mdoran@bsdvt.org
- Quaron Pinckney, Athletic Director – qpinckne@bsdvt.org
- Hope Williams, Executive Administrative Assistant – hwilliam@bsdvt.org