By Johnathon Shaffer / Sports editor and Abby Journay / Staff Writer
Essential skills teacher Cara Westerman has been working in New Palestine for eleven years, starting the NPHS essential skills program. When the HMSES — the county-wide program — disbanded in 2016, Westerman initiated a new and stable regimen for the students that otherwise would have gone back to homeschooling.
“We had to build it from scratch. We didn’t have a lot of supplies and materials, so we have built it and created it over the last 11 years,” Westerman said.
She has continued to lead this system at NPHS up until recently with incredible success and well earned praise.
As of October 24, Westerman is taking a position elsewhere as a transitional coordinator.
“So I will be focusing on that transition piece with individuals with disabilities from high school into adult life.
And that’s what I started my career in. I was a job coach before I became a teacher. So I’m kind of going back to what I started with. And the transition part and the adult vocational programming is my favorite part of teaching,” Westerman said.
Westerman is beloved by many students outside of her immediate classroom, including senior Taylor Burke, who has been working with her for three years.
Burke helps with activities, spends time with the students and sees Westerman as a role model. She has learned a lot from her.
Burke said, “Obviously, I’m devastated that she’s leaving, because she was one of my favorite teachers. She was one of my favorite people to work with. It’s going to be a really good thing for her. She got a really good position somewhere else. I’m very happy for her and that she’s able to take this next step.”
Westerman voiced similar sentiments about leaving, mentioning her students and their families.
“We have an amazing group of students here at New Pal. The families are wonderful, so I’ve developed a lot of close relationships. It’s hard to say goodbye to them,” she said.
However, with a staff member departing, there is another that will enter the CARE program at NPHS. Leah Anderson is coming in as the new essential skills teacher, moving from Greenfield Central Junior High School. She will start at NPHS around Thanksgiving and continue the work that Westerman has sustained over the years.
Burke has offered to step up and help when she can in order to make Anderson’s transition as smooth as possible.
Meanwhile, her service project Dream Day—where Burke asks the essential skills students what their dream day would be and then organizes a way to make it come true—will stay the exact same as planned, with less input from the essential skills teacher.
Burke adds, “I know that right now we’re struggling to find a unified track coach. So if we can find anyone that’s willing, that would be amazing. We don’t have a unified track team yet, because Ms Westerman is leaving and we can’t find someone to take it over.”
Mrs. Westerman’s absence will be felt by NPHS, but with the right teacher stepping up and a strong community in place, the program will continue to thrive.
“I’m excited for the next teacher who’s coming in, hoping she’s going to have some new ideas and can continue growing this program,” Westerman said.
