Each year, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I, like many of you, wake up and have the privilege of reflecting on his life’s work as seen through the enduring words with which he counseled our nation. Today, I came across a new quote from Dr. King, one with which I was not previously familiar:
A genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus, but a molder of consensus.
If Dr. King is right – and I believe he is – then the role of leadership isn’t to poll our schools, districts, and communities until we find consensus around where we want to go, but to build the kind of trust, clarity, and shared purpose that molds consensus around where we need to go. That requires the courage to lean in and patiently walk alongside people in an effort to bring them with us toward the vision of a better tomorrow.
In reflecting on the life and work of Dr. King, we know it’s not easy work, but it’s the work our communities, especially our kids, deserve.
It’s also the work that greatness demands.
#ChooseToBeGreat
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.
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CHOOSE TO BE GREAT 