Who Am I?

I started this blog more than ten years ago record my daily thoughts, actions and antics as a new dad. I work in the education realm and usually prefer to keep a little bit of anonymity, well at least until I started this blog.  I don’t go at this alone… I’m lucky because I have an amazing cast of characters who are part of all this craziness that is parenting.

There are two sides of me. Many of you know me just as a parent, and many just as an educator. Here’s the thing about me… I’ve worked with children my whole life, but until April 27th, 2014… my interaction with children was always work related… teaching, administration, etc… now… I have my own.

I started this blog because I wanted to record all the crazy things that happen during parenthood an easy way to keep track of my little ones growing up.  The blog has slowly evolved over time and become a little more than a daily recording of funny antics.  There are some entries that allow me to tell my sons how much I love them… and some entries that allow me to apologize 😳.  But mostly, it’s about sharing the things that most dads, most parents at that, feel, but never say out loud.

I am Peter and this is my life as a (somewhat) new dad.

Enjoy.

Peter

EDUCATOR BIO:

Throughout my years serving students, families and staff as an educator I have always considered myself a learner at heart. My mission everyday is to impart a love for learning and to create a deep desire for others to grow their minds, practices and social emotional wellbeing.

I began my career as a first, fourth and then fifth grade teacher in inner-city New Britain and later served as an assistant principal in Hartford. My educational journey continued in Guilford when I was named principal at the age of 33 becoming one of the youngest principals in the state. I now begin my 11th year as a school leader.

Most recently, after completing my third Master’s Degree, I was awarded my 093 Superintendent Certification through Sacred Heart University. I also received my 092 Administrator Certification through CCSU and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a focus in bi-cultural and bi-literate studies and a TESOL Certification through UCONN.  I majored in elementary education with a focus in English and social studies during my undergraduate work at CCSU where I was also a Division 1 track and field scholarship athlete.

I have a proven track record of school improvement, high student achievement and the ability to support the social and emotional wellbeing of students and staff. As a school principal I have honed in on how important the building and nurturing of relationships between all who enter my building. I have led the successful implementation of Mindfulness and Restorative Practices for both students and staff in which staff from around the state has come to observe and learn from our practices.

I have been part of many great school teams that have been awarded national and state recognitions, including leading schools that have been named School of High Achievement and High Growth. In less than three years as principal my school moved from a Category 3 to Category 1: School of Distinction. Also, in that short time we virtually eliminated the school’s achievement gap in ELA and math:

• 1.3% achievement gap in ELA down from a 19.7 in less than three years.

• 3.7% achievement gap in math down from 27.3 in less than three years.

In three years as principal our attendance rates for our high needs students improved dramatically as well, improving from 17% to 4% chronically absent.

Why do I do this work? To be able to prove to staff, families and students that the work we do is HARD, But NOT IMPOSSIBLE. In the end it comes down to positively impacting every human being that steps through the doors of my school in order to collectively eliminate, not just the achievement gap, but the opportunity gap as well, for ALL STUDENTS.

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Top Ten Things I’m Embarrassed to Admit (but feel you should know)

10. I am still patiently waiting my acceptance letter to Hogwarts ⚡️

9.   I collect baseball cards and baseball memorabilia from the 30s-40s and 50s.

8.   I cry a little bit every time I watch Lion King and Mufasa dies, (doesn’t everyone)

7.   At one point I thought I would be a “professional” comedian (unfortunately, the only people who laugh at my jokes are… me… and my sons.)

6.   I have as many sneakers as my wife has heels (almost).

5.  I am petrified of heights

4.    EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I am in the ocean I am confident I am going to get eaten by a shark

3.    If we play a round of golf, I will lose more golf balls than you can imagine.

2.    Both my sons are going to learn how to drive a stick shift before I do.

1.    My wife won’t let me use power tools… and that’s probably a good idea.