Nazareth Area School District

 Congratulations to Mrs. Kelly Apruzzi, Principal at Kenneth N. Butz, Jr. Elementary School, on being nominated by a staff member for the Employee Spotlight. Kelly is a phenomenal principal; she goes out of her way to make the school a welcoming place to learn. She is kind but sets expectations high; she lends a helping hand no matter the problem (big or small) and is a role model with her upbeat leadership style. She provides strong leadership in areas of growth mindset, encouraging her staff to continue trying to be their best selves.

Kelly values her staff and all students in the building. She reaches out to parents to form a collaborative community to support students. One fantastic contribution to the building this year is the addition of an emotional support classroom. Kelly supports the class daily, whether with kind words, collaboration, acting as a sub when needed, or dealing with a problematic/aggressive student. She is willing to work through complex problems together to make positive changes!

As the “Coordinator of Chaos,” a title bestowed on Kelly by a colleague, she is an active principal who knows the ins and outs of what is happening in the building. There are so many little things she does that make a big difference - like giving books to each student on their birthday, handing out monthly character awards personally to each student who is recognized at the end of each month, and spending many hours well after school connecting with staff and families to assist with things running smoothly.

The district has employed Mrs. Apruzzi since August 25, 2003. She graduated from South Plainfield High School in Plainfield, New Jersey. Kelly received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from East Stroudsburg University, a Master’s Degree in Reading from Montclair State University, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Wilkes University. She lives in the Nazareth School District with her husband of 23 years, Nick, and her three children: Nicholas, 21, Christopher, 18, and Paige, 16. Kelly’s hobbies include scrapbooking, spending time with family, and watching the Dallas Cowboys. She is also very helpful in rounding up horses when they get loose from their farms. On behalf of myself, fellow administrators, and the Board of School Directors, I would like to thank Kelly for her leadership and dedication to the Nazareth Area School District.