Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. When Nederland Elementary School (NES) found themselves without a principal this summer an educator and administrator in Denver said, “I want to come home.” 

The NES community encouraged Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) to open up the search to out of district candidates because of the time frame and the strong desire to have someone in the community and not just from Boulder. The district agreed and Caleb Melamed was one of the people who interviewed for the position. District leadership recommended him for the position and the BVSD Board approved. The last step is for the candidate to accept the position. Just a few weeks ago Caleb Melamed became the principal at Nederland Elementary School. 

If you have lived in the area for many years you may recognize the name. Mr. Melamed’s mom, Molly Melamed, taught 6th and 4th grade at NES for 15 years. He grew up on Gold Hill Road in the house his parents still live in today. Mr. Melamed attended Nederland schools Kindergarten through 12th grade. In high school he was in the theater program and was on the ski team. He is a 1993 graduate of Nederland High School. 

He did not leave high school thinking he would be back as a principal or a teacher. Melamed graduated from CU-Boulder with a degree in Environmental Science. He worked in the high tech corporate world for a few years and then went back to school to get a teaching certificate thinking he would teach at the high school level. Then, one of those required college courses changed his course. He was at Whittier Elementary in Boulder working on a practicum and realized an elementary school is where he was meant to be. 

He was hired by Dr. Holly Hultgren at Lafayette Elementary to teach 4th grade. Mr. Melamed was there for five years before going to Denver Public Schools to teach. He later received his administrator’s certificate and the last two years he has been the vice principal at Isabella Bird Community School in Denver. A school that was once struggling and now has over 500 students. 

Mr. Melamed says that he is itching to get into the work at NES. He feels very fortunate to be here and wants to give back to the community that raised him and leave a lasting contribution. He hopes this is his last job. 

His wife, Sierra, is a Boulder native and they have a son, Odin, who is in first grade. Mr. Melamed is very excited to be going to school with his son. The family will be moving to the area before the school year starts. 

Now, becoming a principal at a new school is challenging. Add a global pandemic to the mix and the challenges are immense. Along with learning about BVSD with a principal’s lens Mr. Melamed says that safety, continued learning for students and social emotional learning are some of his top priorities. 

He is ready to listen and learn. He wants teachers and students to feel and be empowered. He wants to see the strengths of the school and build on those strengths with robust and innovative programs. 

Mr. Melamed wants NES to be the best community school possible. This means making connections with the community and with the secondary school. Nederland schools are on the path to becoming a phenomenal preschool – 12th grade school system. Mr. Melamed says, “Schools can galvanize community pride.” At the same time, communities are stronger when they support the schools. 

As we welcome Mr. Melamed and his family to the area it will do us all well to remember we are all navigating this unknown territory of continuing to educate our children during Covid. We all need patience, flexibility and Mr. Melamed added, “Teachers and schools need a dose of compassion.” 

Mr. Melamed is excited and passionate about education. He has come back home to lead Nederland Elementary and to collaborate with the students, parents and school staff to help us be the best school we can be. 

(Originally published in the August 6, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)