Livingston Public Schools (LPS) has announced that Brooke Benavides has been selected to serve as Riker Hill Elementary School’s new principal. The Board of Education approved this appointment during a brief meeting on Thursday morning, July 25. She will replace principal Justin Toomey, who resigned from his position after five years to become the new superintendent of schools in Hanover Township.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be joining the dedicated team at Riker Hill Elementary as the new principal. The passion and commitment of the Livingston team of educators is truly inspiring, and I’m excited to become part of such a dynamic and supportive community,” Benavides said. “As principal, I will foster an inclusive learning environment where every child’s voice is valued and every child has the opportunity to discover and develop their unique talents. Building on the strong foundation already laid, together we will continue to cultivate a learning environment where students, staff, and families feel empowered and proud to be part of the Riker Hill ‘Ramily. ’ I look forward to working in collaboration with the administrative team and everyone at Riker Hill to provide an exceptional educational experience for all students.”
Benavides earned a bachelor of arts in theater arts from Muhlenberg College. She also holds two master of science degrees from Nova Southeastern University, one in English education and another in educational leadership.
For the past two years, Benavides has served as the principal of Lincoln Elementary School in the Nutley Public School district. Highlights of her tenure as principal at Lincoln Elementary School included developing the “Lincoln Leader” program to enhance school culture and implement a preventative approach to discipline, resulting in a reduction in disciplinary referrals; launching a school-wide writing initiative that provided students with opportunities to share their writing with real audiences; and collaborating with various stakeholders to launch a media center renovation project, in partnership with the PTO, to revitalize the library and bring diverse texts into the hands of the students.
Prior to being appointed principal at Lincoln Elementary School, she was the PreK-12 English Language Arts coordinator for Nutley Public Schools for eight years. During her tenure in Nutley, she also spent time as an Elementary Summer School Coordinator and supported staff as a literacy coach.
Additional highlights of her career include earning the 2021 Visionary Leadership Award nomination for Visionary Supervisor/Director of the Year and presenting a workshop at the 2022 NJPSA/FEA/NJASCD Spring Conference in Atlantic City on creating culturally responsive equitable classrooms and curricula.
Benavides is a member of the executive board of the Pushcart Players in Verona. She is also a member of the Actors Equity Association and has performed professionally in several local theater productions.
“Mrs. Benavides brings excellent educational experience as the new principal at Riker Hill Elementary School,” interim superintendent of schools Daniel Fishbein said. “Her experience as an elementary school principal, PreK-12 English Language Arts coordinator, literacy coach and teacher make her an ideal candidate to lead Riker Hill. Mrs. Benavides’high energy and enthusiasm about leading Riker Hill was evident throughout the interview process and I look forward to working with her.”
Benavides is expected to begin her new position on September 26, or earlier if a replacement is found for her current position in Nutley. The district’s two assistant superintendents will work with the Riker Hill team to oversee the transition and ensure a smooth opening at Riker Hill in September.
