I had the privilege to interview Mr. Chetta and Mr. VanderVelde on their upcoming roles as Co-Dean of Students.  I am excited for this new opportunity for them and I feel like they will be an excellent duo.  It was a bit difficult to nail down a face to face interview, so the next best thing was to email them the questions.  Below is the interview.  

Gavin: Do you think each of you will handle students who are athletes differently from students who aren’t athletes? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: No, we have to have consistency in that regard. We are going to do a great job of evaluating each situation on a case by case basis.

Gavin: How will you handle the “main sports: football, soccer, baseball, basketball” students when they are actively in season? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: Students are students. No preferences or differences whether we are in season or out of season; along with if it is a perceived main sport or not. 

Gavin:  Are you still going to be able to suspend students when they are in sports season? If not, then are sports more important than academics? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: We will follow the school discipline handbook.

Gavin: Coach Chetta: How will you manage being AD, a soccer coach, and a  disciplinarian at secondary? 

Coach Chetta: Great Question. I have been blessed with the ability to work with an amazing athletics team, Coach Hannah Duckworth, Coach Dylon Cook and the Amazing Ms. Erin Brunner. We have continuity and great working relationships. I’m excited to team up with Mr. VanderVelde and build on our relationship, we both agree we need to be “United” in our approach and be consistent.  

Gavin: Coach VanderVelde, how will you manage being a college referee and disciplinarian at the jr high? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta:  I agree with Coach Chetta on the above question….We are interchangeable and will work together in this role. Management of all my duties at NCS have not and will continue to not be impacted with being an official on the weekends.

Gavin: What are your goals as a disciplinarian? 

Mr VanderVelde/ Coach Chetta: To be supportive and empower our teachers so that they feel valued, also trying to help grow relationships with the student body so that we have good understanding with each other if we need to have tough conversations – Coach Chetta says it well here…I agree with him.  We both want the best for everyone on campus and we look forward to doing what we need to in this role to accomplish those goals. 

Gavin: How do you define effective discipline in a classroom?  

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta:  Effective discipline in a classroom is best defined as a proactive, respectful, and consistent approach to creating a positive learning environment where students understand expectations and are supported in meeting them. 

Gavin-: Coach Chetta: How will your run of disciplinarian be different from the first time?

Coach Chetta- I learned a lot in my previous position as Middle School Dean, looking to grow in my new role with the High School.

Gavin: How will you handle situations you are put in with a student (acting up/talking back)?

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta:We will work together to have  “common understanding.” Having respect and knowing that we both care about everyone on this campus. The important first step is  that students know we want what is best for them and will have their best interest at heart even when we have to correct and redirect. 

Gavin: What is the most challenging part of being a disciplinarian?

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: Working with different types of students and trying to find a perfect balance, I’m not just here to correct when things are wrong, I’m also here to support and praise when people do the right thing. This is well said by Coach Chetta,  that balance of grace and accountability is the toughest part of this job and will always be what we navigate together in this job.

Gavin: Going into next year, will things change for Northlake?

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: Hard to define change. Coach Chetta and I are very similar in our approach and will work closely with Mr. Adair in the interim. We will continue to support the school’s mission and vision. 

Gavin: What influenced you to go back to disciplinarian? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: We both like working with students and trying to support them.  Both, as coaches, it really becomes a natural piece of what we do currently.  We pray that all our students will make great decisions each day, but we aren’t naive and know that we have opportunities to lead them and guide them when they don’t. It’s a natural fit for the both of us. We have had prior experience in this position already. 

Gavin: How do you perceive discipline will be different this upcoming year versus this year?

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: Not much different for the up and coming year…We will be following our school’s handbook.

Gavin: What is one of the strongest things you plan to enforce? 

Mr VanderVelde/Coach Chetta: Hands down, Uniform Policy! The professional look is important to who we are at NCS.  We hope and pray ALL our students will meet uniform expectations. 

Gavin: When talking to some of the soccer players, they seem to be excited that you are now the disciplinarian, thinking that they will be able to get away with things. What do you say about that? 

Coach Chetta: I will not favor anyone, I’m here for all students and teachers.

Gavin: Any last comments that either of you wishes to convey?

Mr. VanderVelde: I’m blessed to be at Northlake, I look forward to next year in supporting the teachers and students. Like Coach Chetta said, this is going to be a great year. We are so blessed to be able to serve at NCS. I look forward to being in this role with Coach Chetta and working together to help lead our school in a positive direction.