Entering the 2025-2026 school year, New Providence High School is experiencing several exciting changes. New murals on the walls, new teachers, fresh rules, and most notably, a new assistant principal. Tania Kelly is the newest addition to the NPHS administration, bringing a passion for education and a goal to reach students and positively impact the school community.
Born and raised in Somerset, Mrs. Kelly is a New Jersey native whose enthusiasm for schooling dates back to third grade. Mrs. Kelly grew up with a passion for learning, and through observing the way that teachers could touch students’ lives, became inspired to one day help students of her own. She remembers Mrs. Gordon, a teacher who served as one of her role models. The impact of teachers was what inevitably led her to choose teaching for her career.
Outside of academics, Mrs. Kelly grew up an athlete, playing soccer as a midfielder. Not only did she play in high school and club teams, she also played a year at Kean University before transferring to Rutgers to complete her Bachelor’s degree. She later went on to get her Master’s at the College of New Jersey, and then her administrative degree at Seton Hall.
Her journey teaching started off in elementary school, teaching various classes in grades 2nd through 6th for 15 years. After that, she moved into the role of assistant principal at Franklin and Flemington.
Mrs. Kelly said she made the switch from teaching to administration because she wanted a “broader reach” on students across the entire school. She is currently in her 8th year working in administration, and loves the impact she is able to have on students and staff throughout the school and connecting with their families.
When she’s not at school, Mrs. Kelly likes to spend her time outside. She loves hiking and skiing with her family, and has even run 2 marathons. Running a marathon was a bucket list item, and after her first 26.2 at the Marine Corps marathon, she went on to run the New York City marathon.
Which brings her here, to New Providence. 2 months in, Mrs. Kelly has nothing but good things to say about NPHS. She notes how everyone is very welcoming and kind. One of her goals is to get to know students on a personal level, so she can best support them, both academically, emotionally and socially, connecting back to her aim to positively impact students.