Part 1
Part 2
A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of interviewing Tony Sinanis. Little did I know, that he would be named the New York Elementary Principal of the Year! So, I interviewed him before he was famous. Tony Twitter is a great principal and one who is eager to share what he is doing well. He is also incredibly humble and self-aware. I hope you enjoy his interview. I sure learned a lot from him. Here is his BrandED podcast
- Tony discusses his background and how he is a first-generation college graduate, and not only that, he is working on his PhD and already has two Masters!
- Tony still keeps in contact with his first year's class. Wow!
- Moving into his first school. Tony's humility recognizing that he wasn't the right fit for the school.
- Separating Tony the principal from Tony the Person.
- Recognizing that his cultural perspectives that were wrong for his school.
- The difference between white guilt and recognizing differences.
- Education is more than just the Common Core and High-Stakes Testing. We are disconnected from what the real world is.
- We try to make kids fit into this little box, totally discongruent to how the world works.
- He calls himself the Lead Learner, not the principal, because there is a real difference between the two.
- How Cantiague gives voice to the students.
- He demonstrates his learning whenever he can. He pushes himself out of his comfort zone as often as he can.
The post about the term Lead Learner by Pernille Ripp
Why are we going to let other people tell our story?
- What they believe in.
- Every choice they make is thoughtful.
- How Tony shares his story daily.
- Storify
- Cantiague Hashtag
- Video updates
- Touchcast app
- How he shifted brand management from him to the staff and the kids
- How to make sure the brand experience matches the brand promise. For example, here is an exchange between Tony and someone who knows what his school's brand promise is:
@TonySinanis @mrkempnz I know you do!! :) All groups are equally respected and treated at #Cantiague.
— Lisa (@lisaodavis) April 17, 2014
- Transparency has changed the relationship between the school and community.
- PTA meetings have taken a new direction since they are so open.
- Build it from the inside.
- Faculty Enhancement opportunities instead of faculty meetings
- How to be a transformative principal like Tony.
- It's not about you!
- Stay current on research.
- Don't take yourself too seriously, but take the work you do seriously.
- What he has in his office to keep him focused on how to be the best principal he can be.
- Jericho Schools