Redondo Union Principal Wesley moves to District Office; Brandt to be promoted
Redondo Union High School Principal Nicole Wesley (center-left) and Assistant Principal Jens Brandt (center-right), flanked by Assistant Principals Lindsey Corcoran (far right) and Anthony Bridi (far left). Wesley and Brandt are moving up — Wesley to the district office, and Brandt to become RUHS principal. Photo .
This summer, Redondo Union High School Principal Nicole Wesley will be stepping down from her position as the leader of Redondo Beach’s only high school, transitioning to a district administration role. In the process, she’ll be handing the reins down to a man she considers her co-principal, current RUHS Assistant Principal Jens Brandt.
The two, along with assistant principals Lindsey Corcoran and Anthony Bridi, have spent Wesley’s five years at the helm turning Redondo Union into the “center of the community,” as District Superintendent Steven Keller said.
“I’m excited…but the reality is, I’m leaving a family as well,” Wesley said, hours after informing her staff of the forthcoming move, effective July 1. “I know Jens will continue to do great things at Redondo, but there’s a part of me that’s sad I won’t be a part of the day-to-day excitement that’s a part of being at this school.”
The move, Keller said, is one that’s been on his radar for some time. “Any principal that’s really pushing the agenda, that’s forward thinking, wears down faster than someone who is maintaining the status quo for 10 to 20 years, playing stay-at-home defense,” Keller said. “She’s always playing offense.”
As a part of his own defensive strategy to keep his strongest assets within the district, Keller offered her the position of Director of Student Services at the Redondo Beach Unified School District’s Head Office. “I approached her and said ‘If you’re interested in moving to the district, we’ll have something for you…however, I hope you don’t take it,’” he recalled.
Since Wesley became principal in 2011, moving from Adams Middle School, Redondo Union has been earned major awards and honors across its academics, clubs and sports teams. School athletic teams have taken home three CIF titles and three state championships. From 2009 to 2013, the school’s Academic Performance Index score jumped from 758 to 856, and students performed well, with room for improvement, in the first year of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress exams.
“When you’re the principal of the only high school in your district, you somewhat have celebrity status,” Wesley said. “I’ve always felt like a celebrity because Redondo is such a great school,” giving her so many opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments of her students and staff.
“I’m going to miss that — and that’s what Jens will enjoy,” Wesley said.
Jens Brandt, who was the district’s coordinator of instructional services before moving to RUHS, was the first name in mind for many observers upon hearing word that Wesley is stepping away. “It’s kind of a no-brainer,” Wesley said.
“Jens brings a lot to the table,” Keller said. “He’s a student advocate, he’s someone who believes in the magic of teaching and learning, and he can talk all day long about pedagogy, the art and science of teaching.”
“I’m not taking this lightly,” Brandt said. “I’m intimately aware of the high expectations from the district office, from the community, parents and staff themselves. It’s a demanding and a rewarding position, but we’ve got a college-going culture, and we’ve made great strides here. I’m excited.”
It’s bittersweet for the pair, who began their partnership with uncertainty.
“There’s an assistant principal for you, and he’s a perfect match,” Keller recalled telling Wesley, shortly before she took the principal job at RUHS. “She goes ‘Brandt? I don’t know about him.’
“Well, give him a try. I think you’ll like him,” he said to her.
“And I thought ‘Well, if not, I’ll just fire him,’” Wesley said, laughing.
Across the table, Brandt laughed with her. “It worked out.”
A letter, from Redondo Union High School Principal Nicole Wesley to RUHS parents and students.