Students may have noticed a new face around campus recently: Rebecca Vester, Redwood’s new assistant principal, began working at Redwood this fall. She can be seen helping in the cafeteria, walking the halls or supporting students and staff from office 107B. While she only started working at Redwood recently, Vester’s passion for education began when she was young and has continued throughout her career.
“I was a kid who always liked school; I really looked up to my teachers and enjoyed learning and doing well. As I got older and more aware, I felt like education was one of the best levers for change and fighting for justice,” Vester said.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Vester’s parents encouraged academic success and her dream to attend UC Berkeley. She explained how her parents’ different college experiences influenced her academic career.
“Neither of my parents finished college–my dad didn’t attend at all, so they wanted that for [me and my brother]. I believed early on that if I worked hard, I would have more options, so that’s what I did,” Vester said.
While studying comparative literature in college, Vester tutored other students in the student center at UC Berkeley, which was her first teaching experience. While discovering her knack for teaching, she joined the Peace Corps and began a nine-month journey in Morocco teaching English.
Vester explained that while this part of her life gave her many amazing memories, she also faced several challenges that helped her later on.
“A life lesson that I learned is that it’s okay to quit when something isn’t working for you. I was living alone when I got sick with the flu, and that was when I realized it was time to think about doing something else,” Vester said.
With this in mind, Vester tried a different path and landed a job at a retail real estate office. While she appreciated the novelty and gaining experience in a different area, the job offered her clarity on her real interest: education.
Later, Vester got a job at Lighthouse Charter High School, a small, 300-student school in East Oakland. She worked there for two years before the principal recruited her for the assistant principal position at Redwood.
Lisa Kemp, one of three assistant principals who has worked at Redwood for the last 20 years, explained how these experiences gave Vester a fresh approach to Redwood.
“When I came here, I was surprised at how many teachers had never been anywhere else, so I appreciate her perspective. She has this great balance; she doesn’t impose her experience, but she has experience that’s super valuable,” Kemp said.
Vester described how getting to know the student body and staff is one of her top priorities, but she also is eager to help in other ways.
“I have a special place in my heart for multilingual learners, especially newcomers. I taught newcomers for many years, and I really want to support that program and see those kids thrive,” Vester said.
Vester also explained that she loves to work in education not only to make the world a better place, but also because of its primary target: kids.
“I think kids are so funny and refreshing, and they’re also all so different. I find them very entertaining and very insightful,” Vester said.
Both of these aspects make Vester a perfect candidate for her position at Redwood, which specializes in special education, counseling, peer support and more.
“I worked really closely with special education at my last job and I just love it. I think it’s so fascinating, and it’s a great way to get to know students more deeply,” Vester said.
Aside from these critical qualities Vester possesses that make her a valuable asset, Kemp also commented on how her attitude truly makes her stand out and has made her transition into Redwood smooth.
“I can’t imagine kids wouldn’t find her demeanor approachable, and I think that’s really important. I can’t imagine anyone who would feel like they couldn’t go talk to her or ask her for help,” Kemp said.
