Kim Dieterle is principal of four special education schools located inside residential treatment facilities.  Under her leadership, Brookfield Schools provides innovative, practical, and effective educational services within these facilities for a diverse group of students who have special emotional needs.

Kim became hooked on education when she took an undergraduate psychology class and spent a day observing a student in school. That class took her from an undeclared major at Glassboro State College to a BA in Education and Teacher of the Handicapped certification. After several years of working in public school systems, Kim switched to the private sector, then earned her MA in Education from Rowan University, along with her Principal's and Supervisor's certification.

Now Kim oversees the educational component for Brookfield Schools’ Kids in Transition (KIT), Insight, Excel, and Haven Home programs. KIT, Insight, and Excel programs are based in Virtua Camden. These residential programs, operated by The Center for Family Guidance, are for 12- to 18-year-olds. The Center works collaboratively with Brookfield Schools and provides intensive behavioral/ therapeutic services while Kim’s staff of four teachers and three assistants offer diverse and highly creative instruction to meet the specific needs of the students.

Haven Home, based at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, serves 24 female middle and high school students with significant mental health and behavioral disorders. Currently, there are three teachers who provide four hours of homebound instruction in the core content areas.

Brookfield Schools has been named a “School of Excellence” by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET). “I have worked in both the private and public sector and must admit that working for the Brookfield organization has been the most positive and memorable job in my entire 23 year career,” says Kim.

Kim’s hobbies include scrapbooking, going to the movies and playing poker. Kim credits her parents, now deceased, for teaching her all about unconditional love; her sister, for always being there for her; and her son, who through his resilience and acceptance, has enabled her to grow into the person she is.