Inspired By His Father, Diliberto Ready for New Role

When West Essex Regional High School students return for the new year in a few weeks, there will be a new face on the administrative staff to greet them—and he'll likely be smiling.

Caesar Diliberto, who has been an English teacher at the high school for the past two years, was appointed last month as the school's new dean of students, replacing Vice Principal Ray Rotella, who resigned at the end of last year to become the principal of Passaic Valley High School.

"A lot of the students are upset that they won't have him for class," Principal Barbara Longo said, "but students who have had him for class are very happy that he has this new position."

After enjoying about a month off, Diliberto, 35, began working in his new position a few weeks ago. Superintendent Thomas McMahon said Diliberto's transition is going "wonderfully."

"He's an excellent teacher, has a great rapport with the students and faculty already," McMahon said. "We chose him because everyone thinks a VP or dean of students is supposed to just deal with kids who get in trouble, but he has a relationship with all the students."

It is a rapport that developed easily in Diliberto's first two years at the high school.

"I'm a people person, I love people," said Diliberto, who doesn't appear to have any nerves as he moves into the administrative role.

"My biggest challenge will be my own OCD," he joked, "my own need to do the best job that I can do all the time."

If any other challenges arise, Diliberto will turn to "tidbits of wisdom" that his late father used to offer. 

"My father was by far the biggest role model in my life," Diliberto said. "He used to have all these little sayings, these little tidbits of wisdom and those are the things that still reverberate on a daily basis in everything that I ever do."

In making a decision, he often asks himself, "Is this something that would make my dad proud or happy?"

Diliberto's father passed away three years ago, just as his son transitioned from the corporate world into education. Diliberto previously worked in advertising sales in New York, earned his teaching certificate in a post-baccalaureate program at Caldwell College and holds a bachelor's degree in English from West Virginia University.

Diliberto said his father always advised him, "'Ceasar, you have to have a plan, 'cause even if you deviate from the plan, you still need a plan from which to deviate.'"

So what is Dilibeto's plan as dean of students? He said he will continue to be involved as much as possible while handling his administrative responsibilities as well as teaching one A.P. English course, and said that parents can expect an open-door policy.

"They can expect that I will be pretty amiable, friendly, understanding—parents can call me anytime they want, anytime they have a concern about anything," Diliberto said.

Until Diliberto receives his master's degree in administration, which he is currently working toward at Caldwell College, he will not be able to monitor teachers like a vice principal would. 

However, that won't stop fellow administrative staff from leaning on him for support. Vice Principal Julie Hoebee said, as a former teacher, Diliberto brings new insight to the administrative team.

"A lot of the things we expect teachers to do, he knows first-hand that perspective," she said.

Students can expect that he will continue to be a friendly face, just sitting behind a new desk.

"I believe that everyone is basically a good person. No matter who the person is, there's something that we can all learn from someone else," Diliberto said. "Everyone has some strengths and something positive about themselves and some people just need a little more guidance to figure out what that is. That's where I come in."

When news of his promotion spread across Twitter, students were disappointed to hear he would not be in the classroom for as many periods, but wished him luck in his new role.

"Mr. Diliberto is a great teacher and person," said Meghan Gambichler, who tweeted the news as soon as she heard. "I was home-schooled in 10th grade and he was my English teacher, which allowed me to get to know him very well. I am excited to see what he will do as dean of students. I know he will do a great job."

Diliberto, who will earn a salary of $87,000, said as students return to class this fall, he plans to pass along another piece of advice that his father often shared.

"Do the right thing," he said. "You may not always know what it is, but do the right thing."