Page 26 - DIPAULA

To Whom It May Concern:
I had the great privilege of serving as PTA President during Dr. John DiPaula’s
three years at Burleigh Manor Middle School. He joined us in 2013 at a time that
my vision for the PTA was to build a stronger community within our school. We
had a big idea to throw the first ever Burleigh Manor Back to School Bash. It was
planned as a fun night the Thursday before school starts for the students and their
families.
Dr. DiPaula was brand new to our community and school had not yet even started-
yet he jumped in and helped us make it a great night and one that has become a
part of the culture at BMMS. I knew then that we were beyond lucky to have him
as our principal. The students loved him. He seemed to have a magical skill of
knowing all 800 or so of their names and also know just who needed a little more of
his attention on any given day. He supported our International Day program in a
big way also. This too was new during his years at BMMS. If the parent
community got excited about an idea, he would match our enthusiasm and put in
just as much work as we did.
I have been a PTA president or boosters president under six principals during my
years as an HCPSS parent. I can honestly say he is the very best to work with. He
cares deeply about his students and it shows. Even now I run concessions for CHS
and I know when our teams play a Hammond team, I will get to see Dr.
DiPaula. He is beyond invested in the schools he leads. I can also tell by the
interactions I see him have with the student athletes at the games - that Hammond
is beyond lucky to have Dr. DiPaula.
I am a teacher and I have always remembered one of my college professors telling
us that the most important thing to remember as we started applying to school
districts at the end of student teaching, “As the principal goes, so goes the school”. I
sincerely believe that the schools that are lucky enough to have Dr. DiPaula as a
principal are schools that will be going in the best direction possible. I highly
recommend him for Principal of the Year.
Meg Roth
megroth@comcast.net