Choose To Be Great: Edition 8

~ Angelo DelliSanti

I am writing to you this morning from beautiful northeastern West Virginia! I don’t think I will ever tire of driving mountain roads at sunset. 😊

Yesterday, I took a look at my schedule over the next few weeks and realized that I’m only going to be home for 6 out of the next 25 days. Admittedly, the schedule is a little daunting. But, I’m REALLY EXCITED about all the stuff I get to do over the next month. There is a ton of opportunity to do great work, to work alongside talented people, to experience new places, and to grow as a person. I’m not always the best at thinking this way, but the next month is going to be a real “get to” for me.

As administrators, we often focus on all the things we “have to” do. We are responsible for keeping everything moving in the right direction while we put fires out along the way. Like my schedule over the next month, the job of a school administrator can be daunting. But, despite the difficulties, we get to choose the attitude we bring into our schools and districts each day. And that attitude sets the tone for everyone else who reports to us.

So, as you begin a new week, I challenge you to see the “get to” moments that exist throughout each day. Come in each day with the mentality that you “get to” do this important work called “Education.” Your work is important – especially to the kids and communities who need your leadership so desperately.

Choose to be Great!

Angelo

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Published by Angelo DelliSanti

“Education? You don’t want to do that with your life. You’ve got other plans.” That’s what Angelo DelliSanti’s high school counselor told him his senior year. And she was right—at first. Angelo had spent three years preparing to become a U.S. Navy officer. But an internship with a math teacher during his senior year changed everything. Helping struggling students master algebra sparked a passion for education that would shape his career. Over the next 15 years, Angelo served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, returning to his alma mater to teach World History and later advancing to leadership roles. As a principal, Angelo implemented the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, leading to remarkable academic gains, increased scholarships, record-breaking graduation rates, and improved school culture. These achievements earned him recognition as the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2022, Angelo joined Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Solutions Strategist where he is dedicated to working together with school leaders to create remarkable schools. He holds a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education from UNC Charlotte, where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He also completed a Master’s in School Administration and completed all the required coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from his alma mater, earning the Outstanding Student Philip Morris Educational Fellowship in 2017. Angelo lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kasey, whom he married in 2008. Together, they enjoy escapes to the mountains and beaches. Angelo’s passions include golf, non-fiction books, cooking, and sharing meals filled with laughter and connection around the table.

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