Welcome to the Bison family!

There is much to celebrate at New Buffalo Area Schools—from the people joining our team to the progress our students are making! In this second edition of New Faces at NBAS, we’re pleased to introduce more of the dedicated staff members bringing their talents, experience, and enthusiasm to our school environment.

We’re also excited to share a fall academic update by Curriculum Director Sam Stine. NBAS leads Berrien County in M-STEP proficiency in English Language Arts and Math, with strong results on PSAT and SAT assessments as well. These achievements demonstrate our students' hard work, our educators' commitment, and our families' support.

Please join us in welcoming our newest team members and celebrating the work happening across our schools. Together, we’re building on that success and helping every student learn, grow, and thrive.

Recently, Curriculum Director, Sam Stine provided a Fall 2026 data update highlighting the district's academic performance across Berrien County. NBAS ranked as the highest-performing district in Berrien County for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency, achieving 77.3% M-STEP proficiency in ELA and 72.5% in Math, while outperforming second-place county districts by notable margins. Middle and high school students also posted leading scores on PSAT and SAT assessments across grade levels, demonstrating notable proficiency growth from the Fall NMSQT to the Spring SAT. Ultimately, the report concludes that the district's current Tier 1 instructional materials are successfully meeting overall learning needs.

Hi! My name is Jetzibeth Rodriguez, and I’m excited to be joining the New Buffalo Elementary as a Special Education Paraprofessional.

As a New Buffalo Area Schools graduate, coming back to work within the district feels very special to me. I’m currently working toward my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and really enjoy supporting children as they learn, grow, and build confidence. I’m super grateful for the opportunity to be here and excited to be part of the New Buffalo Elementary community in a new way.

Hi, I’m Emi! I’m excited to join the NBAS community this year as a BASE staff. I’m originally from Japan and love traveling. I’ve visited 13 countries and especially enjoy trying foods from different cultures. I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and sharing lots of smiles this year!

I’m excited to be joining the school community and looking forward to a great year!

My background is in both education and athletics. I also graduated from Coastal Carolina university with my Bachelors in Communication and Virginia Commonwealth University with my masters in Public Relations where I also hold the school record in the 400 meter hurdles. I began working in education as a long-term substitute from 2018–2020, working with students in Special Education and English in grades 9–12. In 2021, I began coaching collegiate track and field, working at Duke University and later Texas Christian University, where I directed the Nike Track & Field Athletics Camp. I went on to serve as a Head Track & Field Coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Alongside coaching, I had the opportunity to compete internationally as a Deaf athlete. I earned a silver medal in the mixed 4x400-meter relay at the World Deaf Athletics Championships in Taiwan and later won a bronze medal at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan.

After the 2025 Deaflympics, I decided to retire from collegiate coaching and return my focus to education and working with the next generation. I’m excited to share my experiences, encourage students to believe in themselves, and help them discover what they are capable of achieving.

On a personal note, I’m a proud parent to my 10-year-old daughter, who attends New Buffalo Elementary and is also part of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. We live right here in New Buffalo, so being part of this community is especially meaningful to me.

I’m excited to meet everyone, build relationships, and see what this year has in store. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year together!

Hey there! My name is Cale, and I'm the new custodian for NBAS. I was born, raised and live in Michigan City, IN, graduating from Michigan City High School in 2017. My job background is a bit unconventional; I've previously worked in the casino and manufacturing industries, but I've always liked the idea of working for a school district and making the environment safe and clean for everyone. In my free time you can find me spending time with my wife and baby boy. The New Buffalo community has been very welcoming in my short time here, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next!

I am very excited to be part of this amazing school district and community. I grew up in Eau Claire, and currently live in Niles with my wonderful partner Jocelyne, who was a New Buffalo graduate! I have been with New Buffalo Area School for a few years now, managing our school radio station, WNBI-LP as well as instructing our Radio Class. I have spent over 20 years in broadcasting and marketing in the area and I am fortunate to have this opportunity to expand my role here at New Buffalo Area School and do my part to help share the many stories that make this district great.