Dear Editor,

Recently Caleb Melamed, the principal of Nederland Elementary School and Nederland Middle School and Nederland Senior High School was put on administrative leave by BVSD pending an investigation of an incident that took place at the school involving a student. 

This is a letter to express my full and unequivocal support for Caleb in this difficult time.  I hope that BVSD will exonerate Caleb and reinstate him without restriction as principal.

Caleb has grown up in our community and attended our schools and his mother, Molly taught for decades in our community.  Caleb’s son goes to our school and their family has lived up here for decades.  Caleb’s professional career as an educator started in BVSD and after many years climbing the professional ladder inside and outside of BVSD, he came back home to serve our community as principal.  His credentials are impeccable as his history in our community as is his character. 

 My family has lived up in the mountains since 1994 and both of our kids graduated from NMSHS.  I personally have served with Caleb on the Board of the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland and can attest to his kindness and professionalism not to mention his unwavering commitment to our community.

 I believe in Caleb and think that he has done a wonderful job for Nederland schools which have desperately needed administrators who could commit to being up here for the long term.  We have had many wonderful administrators, but Caleb is the first in a long time who could commit to be here for the long term.  We have had about 9 administrations in the Nederland Middle-Senior High School (NMSHS) alone in the last 20 years.

 Caleb has put his heart and soul into his work as principal, regularly logging 60-hour weeks.  It is obvious how hard he works and how deeply committed he is to the community and to the kids.

During the pandemic, many students have lost 1-2 years of education including losing academic skills and organizational skills and behavioral and social-emotional skills.  This has manifested itself in bad academic outcomes and bad student behavior.  Caleb has always been committed to helping the students who need the most help and he is essential to the rebuilding and future of our mountain schools.

 I believe that what is happening to Caleb is unjust and unfair and hope that the Nederland area and school community will voice their support of Caleb.

Thank you for your time,

Joe Kinczel

Nederland