As Assistant Principal of the West Caldwell Tech Campus for the past eight years, I have had the unique opportunity to witness and influence the many positive changes that have taken place at our school during that time. 

Among them:  state mandated test scores have risen dramatically; the opportunity for students to participate in interscholastic sports has become a reality and the spirit of learning has never been higher! 

West Caldwell’s teaching and administrative staff excels at discovering each student’s individual talents and developing those talents to their maximum potential. To begin that process, ninth grade students participate in an exploratory program that allows them to sample a variety of vocational experiences and then to focus on their area of interest and aptitude for their remaining three years. 

One of my goals for this school year is to introduce the concept and practice of entrepreneurship. This will entail teaching students how businesses are created and organized, how capital is raised to advance new ideas and how to identify prudent risk taking. Having students armed with an understanding of how our economy works and how to use it to their advantage, will serve them well as they work to create satisfying careers after graduation. 

With the opportunities that presently exist here at West Caldwell Tech, and with the plans and vision for the future, I am confident that we will continue to be a place where parents, teachers and the community can work together to provide a multi-faceted, comprehensive education to our students in a caring and supportive environment.  

I am available as a resource for information about our school and school district. To this end, I am providing my contact information below:

 John P. Valickas

Assistant Principal

e-mail: jvalickas@essextech.org

phone: 973-412-2231