Mount St. Dominic's newest English teachers brings passion and purpose to the classroom

• By KATYA ELLENIS Contributing Writer

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CALDWELL - The Mount St. Dominic Academy English Department has gained a new edition in Nicole Colello-Kim, who grew up in Hackettstown and now resides in Caldwell.

Stepping into the classroom with the same passion her mother brought to teaching, Colello-Kim is ready to inspire. With a deep love for literature and a dedication to sparking curiosity, she brings fresh enthusiasm to every lesson, making her a perfect fit for the Mount's school community.

Even from a young age, Colello-Kim knew she wanted to help students strive in the classroom. She said that since she knew she wanted her career to revolve around children, she often "played teacher" as a child.

After completing high school and earning her diploma, she went on to earn her undergraduate bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, following in many members of her family's footsteps.

“TCNJ, ranked No. 1 in top public schools and in Regional Universities North, is a highly prestigious institution and a good teaching school,” she explained.

After this, she pursued her master's degree at William Paterson University in Wayne, with a concentration in English. With this degree in hand, she went on to become a high school English teacher.

After teaching high school for several years, Colello-Kim took a step back from the classroom to focus on raising her children—a choice that she said has filled her life with joy and adventure. With two boys, ages seven and nine, she’s kept on her toes by their many interests and activities. From soccer to basketball to baseball, she’s always actively engaged in their lives, embracing the energy and excitement of each new season.

While she really enjoyed her time with her family, as the boys got older, she felt it was time to re-enter the workplace. Soon after, she went to work in a preschool but missed the high school setting. Living in Caldwell, she saw an advertisement for a position at the Mount, applied, and was hired.

As she continues her journey with the Mount, she said she looks forward to becoming involved with the school’s dance team and Key Club.

“Mrs. Colello-Kim jumped in with both feet this summer, immersing herself in the prep work needed for classroom success,” said Robert DeCarlo, the chair of the English department. “This included attending an Advanced Placement Summer Institute on Advanced Placement English Language and Composition to prepare to teach that course.”

Colello-Kim’s transition to the Mount has been quite positive.

“She is a really fun and great teacher. She finds creative ways to teach us the lessons in the classroom,” senior Ava Lawdanski said.

Editor's note: The author is a junior in the journalism program at Mount St. Dominic Academy.