As East eagerly ushers in the new school year, a palpable sense of change permeates the atmosphere, notably marked by the arrival of new administrators. This administrative transition unfolds against the backdrop of several beloved faculty members retiring, including Assistant Principals Mr. Louis Papa and Dr. Matthew Covington. Naturally, East has welcomed administrators, one of them being Ms. Kim Keyack, who serves as the assistant principal to the class of 2024. Keyack took over from Aaron Edwards,who stepped into Papa’s role after his retirement. At this time, East anticipates a promising school year under the capable leadership of Keyack, and the departure of seasoned educators is met with fond farewells.
Keyack graduated from the University of Salisbury as a History and Education major in 1992. Later, in 2016, she enrolled in the University of Saint Joseph to pursue a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Curriculum Supervisory. Keyack, a native of the Cherry Hill District, taught as a science teacher at Beck Middle School for 21 years. She left the district to pursue administration at West Windsor Plainsboro High School as an assistant principal for a few years and now returns to East.
“So, about 100 of my current students [in the class] should have had me in Beck for Science,” said Keyack as she reflected on her teaching years at Beck.
Beyond her role as a science educator, Keyack oversaw the East girls’ basketball program as Head Coach for 13 years, from September 2000 to June 2013. Under her leadership, the girls’ basketball team saw several victories, including winning the Olympic Conference championships in 2005, 2006, and 2011. Additionally, the girls team became Group IV finalists those same years. Keyack has won leadership awards for her contribution to the East team; she won South Jersey Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2011.
Keyack’s commitment to enhancing the learning environment extended beyond the classroom. She actively participated in various committees and projects to enrich the student experience, including her role as a lead scheduler at Beck, contributions to the District Evaluation Advisory Committee (DEAC), involvement in the Climate Transformation project, and engagement with the science curriculum committee. These diverse experiences have equipped her with the skills and insight necessary for her new role.
Confident and eager, Keyack is excited to lead the class of 2024 to graduation and make this an enjoyable year for her students.
“At Beck, I was already involved in a lot of administrative tasks; if I was good at it and enjoyed it, why not? So I decided to take the leap, consider leadership roles, and here we are,” said Keyack.
With new additions to the administration and a promising start to the school year, East is marked by growth, dedication, and student-focused leadership.
