Every couple of days, I get an encouraging email from one of my good friends and colleagues. Her name is Carrie, she lives in Colorado, and she absolutely loves life! The emails are often full of quotes and stories to help encourage us throughout our week. I always read them, and they never fail to lift my spirit. I hope we all have friends like Carrie who are always there to lift and encourage us.
On Friday, her email contained a quote that I instantly knew I wanted to share with each of you:
I refuse to lower my standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Steve Gamlin
As I reflect on my journey in leadership, I realize there were moments when I wish I had adhered more steadfastly to this principle. While I believe I adjusted my expectations when my empathy called for it, there were certainly times when I compromised my standards simply because it seemed easier than addressing the issue. Although lowering my expectations may have made life more convenient for me, it did not make things any easier for their team. In those moments, I failed my school.
Learn from this quote and learn from my mistakes. Hold your standards high and remember these words from my friend and mentor, Vern: “The lowest accepted behavior becomes the culture of the organization.” Lead like my professor and dissertation chair, Dr. Mickey Dunaway, when he said, “I believe in extraordinarily high expectations and providing extraordinarily high levels of support.”
Choose to be Great!
Angelo
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.
View all posts by Angelo DelliSanti
CHOOSE TO BE GREAT 