Sparta — Though she’s a familiar face at Ridgeview Elementary, Kelley VanVliet is starting the 2025-26 school year in a new role, making the jump from assistant principal to principal.
VanVliet told SNN she’s thrilled to take the top position at the kindergarten through second-grade school.
“I feel very honored to be given this opportunity to lead the staff,” VanVliet said. “They are amazing, they are dedicated — we have such a positive culture in this building and it just continues to grow.”
VanVliet has been working in education for 22 years, and she’s starting her fourth year at Ridgeview. Prior to coming to Ridgeview, she was a teacher, and later part-time assistant principal, at the third- through fifth-grade Appleview Elementary.
VanVliet — alongside new assistant principal Kelly Petersen — assume their positions as part of a restructuring at both Ridgeview and Appleview, giving both buildings a full-time principal and assistant principal for the first time in years. Previously, one part-time principal was shared between the two schools, each of which only had full-time assistant principals.
VanVliet said the staffing change will mean more support for students, staff and families.
“It will be great for our families to know that they have two people who are looking after their kids, looking after the staff, looking after our Ridgeview community,” she said.
VanVliet intends to lead from alongside teachers and support staff. The new principal said she’s not going to ask staff to do anything she won’t step in and do herself, whether it’s subbing in the classroom, working in the lunchroom or overseeing student pick-up and drop-off.
“Part of my role here in this building is to create an amazing culture where everyone feels like they belong here,” she said. “Where they feel loved and supported — from all of our staff who work here to our students and to our families, to our board of education.”
VanVliet’s goals for the year include continuing to foster a warm and welcoming environment that helps students “be the best kiddos they can be.”
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