Choose to be Great: Great Leaders (Y2:E3)

~ Angelo DelliSanti

On my flight yesterday afternoon, I came across the following thought from former First Lady Rosalynn Carter:

A leader takes people where they want to go.

A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, 

but ought to be.

As I read it, I thought, “How true is this?” If we took everyone where they wanted to go, we’d all be headed to Disney World. Everyone has places they want to go and there are plenty of leaders who are willing to take them there.

I then thought of you – the school leader. Irrespective of your title, you are leading people to where they ought to be, transcending mere desire.

Teachers, you have the chance to help kids change the direction of the footsteps they’ve taken, granting you the privilege of helping them achieve a better life than many of them ever could have imagined. 

School and district leaders, you have the chance, not only to impact the lives of students but the lives of staff members who will go on to affect the lives of countless students. Sometimes, that burden of leadership can be hard. People, especially adults, will fight you if they think you’re taking them someplace other than where they want to go, even if it’s where they “ought to be.” But, because you’re a leader, you press on. You’re willing to take the risks necessary to get them there. You’re able to help them see the forest when all they can see are the trees. You bring them to places they thought impossible because, in your heart, you know all things are possible.

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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