Donald Gately Ed.D.
Category Archives: Leadership
About hope: We can’t give in, can’t give up
When Sandy Hook happened, I was certain that something would change. Six and seven year olds! If as a nation we were not willing to do something to address gun violence in our schools following the deaths of six and seven year-olds, I told myself, nothing would ever change. How could we not act!?
But we didn’t.
Posted in adolescence, Leadership, Reflections, Teaching/Learning, Uncategorized
Tagged gun control, gun violence
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About Feedback: Good enough is not good enough
If you’re going to have a single job for a long time, the two jobs you would do well to consider are classroom teacher and middle school school principal. Both of these are dynamic roles that are constantly challenging, you can never be bored. The jobs of the principal or the teacher are wildly unpredictable. It’s important to have a plan but don’t expect that you’ll be able to follow it. Because of the chaotic dynamism of these roles, there’s a tendency for some people to cling to consistency. Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Personal Best, Reflections, Teaching/Learning
Tagged feedback, reflection
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About school climate: You might control the weather
We cannot control the weather, but there are so many things that educators do control.
It’s about intentionality. Everything we do as educators should be done with intention, not because that’s the way were were taught, not because it’s what “feels” right, or what’s easy for us; we must always act in ways that create safe conditions for learning to take place and to build the resilience of our kids.
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About a hero: Detective Steven McDonald
The world lost a true hero recently, Detective Steven McDonald of the New York City Police Department. Detective McDonald was an amazing man who, in his words and in his life, embodied character and a belief in the inherent goodness … Continue reading
About energy: Loving the mannequin challenge
Any middle school teacher knows that one of the most exciting but challenging aspects of the job is the frenetic pace of life with the kids here. The executive function portion of the adolescent brain, the part that slows things down so we don’t make poor decisions, hasn’t fully developed. As a consequence, middle school kids seem to be operating at 78 rpm while the rest of us are at 45rpm. The engines in their brains have more acceleration than brake.
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About EdCamp, Friends and Family
You’ve all been to conferences. You sign in. Get a name badge that was printed for you in advance. Everyone has a neatly prepared badge — with their name — title — school district — all proudly displayed on their badge, neatly protected in a plastic case — hanging — from a lanyard.
And there’s Sharpy-Boy over there with his sloppy sticky label Continue reading
Posted in edcamp, Educational Focus, Leadership, Random Thoughts, Reflections, Uncategorized
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About “developing”: Teacher evaluation
I’m a life-long fan of the New York football Giants. We’ve had season tickets in my family since 1963 when my dad and my uncle bought a pair of tickets to see them play at Yankee Stadium. My brothers and … Continue reading
Posted in Best Practice, Leadership, Reflections, Teaching/Learning
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About professional development: EdCamp is the better way!
Here’s a confession, I’ve been responsible for some pretty horrible professional development (PD). When I think about the faculty meetings I ran when I was a new principal, I am embarrassed. Often, my faculty meetings were the Don Gately Show. … Continue reading
About a song: What does it “mean”?
This was only a brief snapshot of a terrific learning moment but I promised myself I would share what I observed because, at our school, we are all LEARNERS! Thanks Bess! Continue reading
About my #OneWord: Nurture
My one word for 2016 is Nurture, as in relationships. For 2016 my goal is to reflect more on and devote greater energy to the relationships I have with everyone in my life… One of the most powerful mentors in … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Personal Best, Random Thoughts, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged realationships
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