Donald Gately Ed.D.
Category Archives: Leadership
My COVID-19 Diary: Goldilocks Tasks
In layman’s terms, this is often referred to as the Goldilocks Principle, not too hard, not too soft. Your nine-year-old is clearly not excited about cleaning that nasty area behind the toilet in your basement, a burden you’ve been putting off for months, and with good reason. The task should have a finite goal and be sufficiently challenging to take at minimum one hour and ideally an entire day, yes 24 hours! Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Principal in the Coal Mine
As a middle school principal in the New York Metro area, I guess that makes me a “Principal in the Coal Mine”. So I’m going to offer just a few ideas for my colleagues who may be a week or two behind us here in New York (leaving open the possibility and the most ardent HOPE, that we can ALL avoid the dire consequences of this pandemic). Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Friday un-Focused #2
My daughter’s idea: people can leave the house and go wherever they want but they have to always be riding a bicycle. If you get closer than 6 feet you’ll probably crash, so it’s mostly safe. I told her I would inform the governor. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Adversity reveals character?
Much as we hate to admit it, this quarantine is highlighting some of our most annoying character traits. What are you doing to drive your quarantine friends and family a little bit kooky during this challenging time? Here’s some of mine*: Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Grandpa, why don’t you shake hands
My grandmother saved the string that you get on a cake box from the bakery. You know, the really thin red and white striped string. I never once in my life saw that string get used but she had it. She also re-used tissues. They were hidden in her sleeve (you never sneezed in from of Nanny). Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Were you ready for this?
I appreciate the opportunity to applaud my amazing teachers for all that they’ve done to give us a huge head start and I encourage all of us to see our present reality as part of a dynamic approach to learning that can continue even when we go back to a face-to-face environment (please tell me this will be soon!) Continue reading
My COVID Diary: Friday un-Focused
78 returned emails, a bike ride to the grocery store, an Andrew Cuomo press conference, dinner and it’s time for bed. And I’ve never been so exhausted in my life. Repeat again tomorrow. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: The “soft launch”
Harry Houdini once escaped from a straitjacket and chains while suspended by a wire 60 feet over Times Square. Do you think this was the first time he ever wriggled out of a straitjacket while hanging upside down? Continue reading
Posted in Best Practice, Educational Focus, Leadership, learning, Personal Best, Random Thoughts, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged innovation
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My COVID-19 Diary: Is there cheese?
How are you doing with your routine as you work from home? The other day I paused and found myself doing all of the following things at the same time: Checking emails Slicing vegetables for dinner Responding to an email … Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Perspective
Because I’m moderately overwhelmed by the level of virtue that I see on social media amongst, well, everybody, especially educators, I’m hard-pressed to find something original I can contribute during this crisis. I’m reminded of what my mentor told me, … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Personal Best, Random Thoughts, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Coronavirus, Covid-19
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In the middle of learning - by Donald Gately Ed.D 
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