Just Keep Doing What You Are Doing

Dr. Joseph Gulino

This week's guest blogger is Dr. Joseph Gulino. Dr. Gulino has spent several weeks over the past two years working with the St. Ann educators with a focus on gifted students and learning. You can learn more about Dr. Gulino by visiting the Gulino Group website. https://www.thegulinogroup.org/  I'll let Dr. Gulino take over from here.

“Just keep doing what you are doing,” music to the ears of an educator who has just been observed by a supervisor. Also, music to the supervisor who loves to watch excellent educators at their craft. These were words I was fortunate to utter to educators at St. Ann Catholic School in October. I stated those words more times at St. Ann than at any other school I have had the opportunity to observe educators. I have been at St. Ann working with the faculty approximately three weeks, May and August of 2018, and October of 2019. The first two visits were to make presentations and identify resources re: ‘How to help all students achieve,’ ‘Resources to challenge all students think critically and creatively,’ and ‘What all educators need to know about trauma, their students, and education.’

I was asked by Mr. Aur on the third visit to observe each educator and give them feedback re: the implementation of resources they had chosen the previous year. I am the former Director of Education Clinical Experiences and Master Degree program at Central Methodist College, Fayette, MO 1994-99. Working with educators and helping them become better at their craft was my favorite position in my education career.

What I Observed working with the Educators

Important behaviors of great educators that are most important to me:

Educators were deeply committed to developing relationships with their students. I could feel it, see it in their demeanor, hear it in the works they used working with students, and observe it in the reactions of the students.

Words to describe further would be caring, kind, and most importantly patient as St. Ann is serving many students with special needs and life situations, and patience is a virtue needed greatly and observed often.

The way we feel sometimes
during this pandemic.

Logically what follows is their keen knowledge of their students: the needs for all (the group/class), and the particular needs of each student. This was observed watching them work with their classes, and more importantly hearing/seeing their conversations with peers re: particular students sharing strategies and getting feedback from each other in faculty room or private settings.

Being a former principal and college professor and now consultant, I was particularly impressed with their dedication to being educators, not just teachers.  Educators do not hold down a job and JUST go to work at 7:30, get off at 3:30, play with kids all day, and have their summers off. Educators are professional. They act like professionals and love what they do more than anything else. They are always on the lookout and desire to learn more about their craft, not having more time away from their students. Whole group discussions regarding my presentation material and then later one-on-one discussions with St. Ann educators were very impressive and showed me the desire to learn, and knowledge gained. I look forward to future visits to see how all grow even further.

Lastly, the time engaged in learning was outstanding.  There was little to no, down, “get started on homework,” or wasted, time. There are only so many minutes in a school day and every one of them is important, and these educators use as many minutes as possible for learning.

Being at St. Ann for so many days also gave me a great feel for the school as whole, and I feel I should share that with you as well.

Principles of
Fearless Leadership

St. Ann Catholic School

Important characteristics of a great school important to me, what I observed as a whole:

Great schools smell good. You can tell when you enter a building by what you smell and pass judgement mentally. The cleaning staff does an excellent job of preparing the school in this area. I always liked the cafeteria to be close to the front door, so the smell of good food could be experienced by all who entered.

St. Ann is a safe, civil, and healthy environment for students to learn. Walking the halls and popping into classrooms, it is very obvious that students feel respected and connected with the faculty and staff. 

There is a clear understanding that this is a Catholic School with strong common beliefs and values. That Catholicity is openly observable as well as shared with all who come into contact with the school, its staff, and communications that come from the school or its staff.

I observed that the educators I worked with believe that all students can learn and meet high standards. Students are challenged, and guided, to be the best they can be; and those who come to the school with special needs or life situations are given the resources and help they need.

Your principal, Mr. Aur, is an outstanding leader. He is a visionary, creative, and very proactive. He knows what is needed in many situations and is very open and asks others what is needed. He also knows how to get the help needed to obtain those needs. He brings in quality staff members and then turns them loose to be the best they can be for the students, parents, and St. Ann community of faith. Professional development of the staff is important to him and he sets it up properly with continued work with professional individuals over time to strengthen trust and relationships, not just one shot one-time in-service experiences.

Possibly the strongest area I noted in the St. Ann staff after their care for students is their high level of collaboration. I observed selfless teamwork across all grades and subject areas. Another big bonus to St. Ann is the high degree of parent and community member participation in the daily school operation.

In closing, I hope you take from these observations that this professional feels/knows that St. Ann School is a special school in a special time and should be appreciated, taken care of, supported, shared, and allowed to continue to grow. The children/students are in great hands and many will be achieving great things because of the foundation they are receiving here. I look very forward to my next visit to share more with the educators and grow myself though their reflections back to me.

God Bless,

Joseph Gulino

Support St. Ann Catholic School

Thank you Dr. Gulino for your insights. You have been a tremendous help to the educators and students at St. Ann. We greatly appreciate the time you have taken to make St. Ann and even better Catholic School. We hope to see you around in 2020-21.

God bless you,
Didier Aur, Principal
St. Ann Catholic School

Read our previous blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/05/why-st-ann-by-liz-wehmeyer.html