Page 21 - JOHN DIPAULA POY APPLICATION 2021

BURLEIGH MANOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
4200 Centennial Lane ○ Ellicott City, MD 21042 ○ 410-313-2507 ○ (F) 410-313-2513 ○ bmms.hcpss.org
Recommendation for John DiPaula
To Whom it May Concern:
It is my pleasure to write this letter of support for Dr. John DiPaula’s nomination for Principal of the Year. While I only had the honor of working with Dr. DiPaula as my Principal for one year at Hammond High School, I continue to learn from him and deeply value his mentorship.
John is a leader who lifts up the value, perspective, and truth of all voices within and outside of the school building in everything he does. He listens first, and actively seeks to understand the perspective of everyone involved in whatever situation he is working through. Whether it be long-range school improvement planning that seeks to reduce suspension rates, a student and teacher conflict, or a concern with a teaching team dynamic, John will be sure to hear and understand all perspectives before working with those involved to find a solution. He models the value and importance of listening to, learning from, and leading with others in everything he does.
John’s focus on the people who are at the heart of what we do everyday, in particular the emphasis he places on equity of voice, has promoted a culture of distributed leadership at Hammond High School that I haven’t personally seen in any other school in which I’ve worked. Team leaders, teachers, paraeducators, and support staff all are empowered to do the work it takes to meet school improvement goals. Staff take on leadership roles, guided by the shared vision Dr. DiPaula has fostered. He coaches his teams in a way that allows them to build their own leadership styles and strengths, and develop the confidence to lead in a way that feels authentic to them.
On any given day, you will find John at the front of the building, greeting every student by name as they come into the building, asking them questions about their classes, their extra-curricular interests, or their outside of school jobs and lives. He is in classrooms throughout the day, in the hallways during class transitions, and at every after school event. He knows his students, their families, and his staff, and responds to their needs even when they aren’t verbalized. When he noticed that a number of our students didn’t have winter coats, he organized a coat drive, eventually providing a new coat to every student who wanted one. That kind of insight into the needs of the community and willingness to creatively find solutions to problems is at the heart of John’s leadership. He epitomizes the servant leader model and is truly a man for others.
I wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend Dr. John DiPaula for this recognition. His leadership has been an inspiration to me both personally and professionally, and I am honored to write this letter in support of his nomination for Principal of the Year.
Sincerely,
Mikaela Lidgard
Principal
Burleigh Manor Middle School