Peter Galasso
Position: Principal
School: Highland Elementary School
School District: Midland Park Public Schools
City, State: Midland Park, NJ
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Thx so much for all your hard work your the best
You help our school to make it better. You are kind, nice and polite.
When It was my first day at Highland Elementary school you gave me a fist bump and he welcomed me into the building. I am grateful that you are my principal. You’re always helping people out. This is why you deserve every year to be a life changer of the year award. You are so kind and nice and respectful to your employees and teachers and students. You are so caring for people who need help. You are the best principal I’ve ever had in my life. You made such a difference in my life that I will never forget. You’re always upbeat person. You make a big difference in peoples lives.
What an amazing accomplishment for an amazing Administrator! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Mr. Galasso. You make such a positive impact on these kids day after day. You are truly one of a kind! Thank you for keeping it real and raising the bar for the kids of Midland Park. Thank you for all you do every day, you are more than deserving of this award.
Congratulations Mr Galasso ??Please go on with what you’re doing,thank you!!!
You deserved it. Good job.
Mr. G,
An honor befitting a great Principal and a better human being. Your tireless guidance and unwavering acceptance was the foundational strength that a resilient and wonderful young man has emerged. We will be forever grateful for the role you played in our sons life and continued growth.
Congrats Mr. Galasso! No one deserves this more than you. We are very lucky to have you.
Congratulations to you! We certainly miss not seeing you. This is a well deserved recognition.
Congratulations on your outstanding award!
Congratulations. In my time working with you, i saw your dedication. First one there last one to leave. Always making time to play b-ball with students and staff. Those are the intangibles. Great Job Pete!
Mr. Galasso, we wanted to wish you a BIG Congratulations on this well deserved honor! You put such heart into what you do and the Highland School community is so lucky to have you. Thank you for all you do.
The Thompson Family
Congrats.
Proud to be the crossing guard in front of Highland serving your students and staff.
Such a pleasure to work together in this community with you. You are an important contribution to why this town is so special. Thank you for making it easy and a joy to have the library collaborate with the schools. Keep up the kindness and hard work!
Couldn't think of anyone more deserving. I don't think that you realize how much you positively impact people because it it so 2nd nature to you. That is the quality that makes you so successful at your job. You don't have to try hard to be a "life changer" because it's innate. We are lucky to have you in our community and your family was so proud of you today....it was obvious. So enjoy it! You deserve it and thank you.
Congratulations! All of Midland Park is proud of you and appreciate you very much!
Congratulations Mr. Galasso on a well-deserved award. Owen is loving being at Highland and you are a huge part of it!
Congratulations on receiving the Lifechanger Award Mr. Galasso!! This is so well deserved! We are so grateful that you have touched the lives of our children!
With great appreciation,
The Tuosto Family
Amazing person who has impeccable leadership skills. A True role model. Congrats on you success Pete!!
Congratulations! It made my day to learn this news! Fantastic and well deserved!
Congrats to the best Principal ever on winning the Life Changer of the year award. You definitely deserve this award and you should always remember this awesome moment. I am still shocked and so happy for you. Your the best and your going to make it more better! Congrats!!!
Congratulations Mr Galasso! Can’t think of a more deserving person for this award. As parents, we are so grateful for your leadership and the role model you are to our children.
Congarets Mr. Galasso! You are a great principal and I will truly miss you as my principal.
Congratulations! I'm so happy you're getting recognized for the great work you've been doing. Sammy said to add "that's awesome!"
Much deserved award. You truly care and it shows. Can’t wait until Anthony gets to highland next year. Congratulations.
Congratulations! Well deserved! Thank you for all you do for our children!
Congratulations! There is no doubt in my mind that you are a life changer. I witnessed it firsthand when you started at Highland as our Principal. I watched you interact with all of the students in a respectful way and negotiate all of the not so easy discussions with parents. Implementing locks on the lockers, changing classes and using online portals for school work for the 6th grade the year that I had a 6th grader really helped them get ready to move to the Jr/Sr high school. You brought so many great changes to Highland School and Midland Park. You deserve the accolades.
So deserved! Congratulations Mr. Galasso!!
Congrats, you are the best!!!
Dear Mr. Galasso,
Congratulations on your LifeChanger award! You definitely deserve it! You make Highland School better place for all its students, parents and teachers. Our schools should have more principals like you. Peter did so well in Highland and will miss you very much!
The Gizzi Family
Congrats Mr. Galasso! Well deserved!!!!
The Pittas Family
Congratulations Pete!! The award is greatly deserved. You have worked hard for Highland and Midland Park community. We all appreciate you.!!
Congratulations! A much deserved win!!! You do amazing work and we are lucky to have you!
Could NOT have happened to a more deserving guy! So happy for you (and even happier for us that was have you!)
Mr. Galloso should be nominated for the principal of the year. He is there when we need help and helps us with bad times. He should be nominated for the principal until he retires. He is very athletic and the best principal in the hole entire earth. This is why he will win
I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Galasso for over 6 years and during that time my respect for him grows a little more each year. Each year, I learn new things about him that may be surprising to many. Prior to college, he had so many jobs from working on a farm to selling Christmas trees. As he was preparing for college he wanted to find a job that would enable him to help people. He decided to become a teacher because he wanted to be able to look back on life and be happy because of all the kids he could help by making them in his words, “better people”. He said, “This would give me the greatest opportunity to make a difference that mattered.” When he told me this, I was astonished by his passion to make a difference at such a young age. He began his career in New Milford, NJ and taught there for about 10 years. He fondly reflects on his time as a teacher where he would drive kids home when he was the coach even though it was against school policy, because he could not watch some “disenfranchise students” as he would say, walk home watching all the kids with functioning homes always getting a ride. He set up a “delinquent in 6th grader” to work with the custodian after school as a way to get through to him. He said it actually worked for a while and he eventually became an assistant custodian. He would take students whose parents were not around, on college visits. He would meet students from school 3-4 days a week to help them train for sports at random fields because they could not afford a trainer like some other kids. He speaks of one girl that he called, “captain” that lived In a 1 bedroom apartment with 5 people and she would sleep in her parent’s bed and did not like to go home after school. He was so concerned about her well-being that he would wait with her until 4pm every single day in his classroom until Mom got home and when she left he would then rush to his coaching job. He would talk about his Principal asking him to teach the self-contained kids in his classroom. He would have 30 students, 8 of them with severe needs and he said he loved it. It was the only time besides lunch they were with their peers. Years later, he got a call from Midland Park and decided to put in for the job of Athletic Director and Vice Principal of the Midland Park Middle school. He loved his job but knew he needed to support his family better financially so reluctantly took the job of Athletic Director and eventually, VP knowing he would forever miss being a teacher and coaching . He often says that it is truly where someone can make a 1:1 difference at a personal level because there is the ability to develop a true connection with them while leaving a lasting impact. In 2013`, He was eventually chosen for the position he is still in today, our loyal leader as the principal of Highland School. He soon made many changes to the school esthetically, but his primary focus was to establish a connection with his staff and parents. He would say that “with teaching it is so personal and so many are underpaid and underappreciated. To get people to work hard there had to be a communal bond and feeling. That if a teacher did not teach hard or do their job that they would be not just letting the kids down, but their colleagues.”
He also wanted to impress upon his staff despite the daily challenges, teaching is a wonderful worthy profession. Prior to entering Highland School his reputation preceded him. When he was at the High School, there were a few students he was especially concerned about and would often check in with them or contact their parents inquiring about their well-being. There was even a student who really struggled academically whom he would meet with every morning at 7:15am so he could help her with her HW and that is exactly what he has done at Highland with various students in similar situations. Most weeks you will find him at the school working on average about 60 -70 hours. He often brings three of his children into school on the weekends so he can get his work done. When asked about it he humbly replies that it is part of the job and that his kids love it. He says they play man hunt with walkie- talkies and take out all the gym equipment and run around. They draw him pictures and watch Netflix in the media center but generally stay the entire day with him either Saturday or Sundays while he stays and gets his work done. He often gets work done after the day is done because on most days he is either on the playground jumping in a game of four square, or in the cafeteria catching up with students, walking the halls checking in on teachers or handling a situation with a student who may be having difficulty. After the bell rings at the end of the day he can be found often challenging various students to a one on one basketball game. He is always brainstorming new ideas to help out the community in any way possible. When a parent suggested that the 6th grade get involved with her school that teaches students with disabilities he didn’t hesitate. Over the summer we visited a school and he quickly put the plan in action. We now have a program where about 18 students from the 6th grade visit 5 times a year. He also planned a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, and helped build two walls with the Student Council and their families on a Saturday. He often encourages the Assisted Living Home residents to attend various events. Whenever he is presented with a charity or an event that benefits our school or community he is the first one to make sure the plan comes to fruition. For example, when a parent asked if we could have a school-wide Bingo game on standardized testing days, he completely supported the idea. I honestly can’t think of one idea that he has turned down in regard to supporting the well-being of students or teachers. He created a Maker Space room for the 6th grade students to begin to attend extracurricular activities like video editing, workshop, and robotics. All of these changes have made Highland a truly unique place to work where people are willing to think out of the box to maintaining the positive climate that permeates the school.
When I asked him how the “Do the Right Thing” assemblies came about, he told me it was just a simple concept to change culture of school. To me, it is remarkable that such a “simple concept” has had such an important and lasting impact on not only teachers, but students. These Assemblies are anything but simple, they often take him countless hours to create putting a lot of thought into each message. He always relates it back to the students’ lives as well as his own. With that personal touch, the students hang on to his every word and are instantly inspired to do great things. At the end of each Assembly he calls up 8 or 9 students who are nominated for a “Do the Right Thing” T-shirt. He reads each teacher’s reason for the nomination and then shares the name with the school while blasting electrifying music as the child comes up and receives a t-shirt. The students often look forward to getting a t-shirt but he has created an environment where everyone is equally excited for their peers even if they are not the ones nominated. His ability to transform a school into a family has been remarkable. His commitment to making sure the positive climate is obtained on a regular basis is astounding. I hope that he will one day look back on his life and see that he has in fact, made a difference that mattered and as a result made all of us “better people” for being a part of the school. I don’t think we will ever know specifically how many lives have been changed but I do know he is absolutely a “life changer” and deserves this award.
Mr. Galasso is the epitome of a life changer as he has changed my life on several occasions. During my time of struggle and need, prior to becoming his employee, Mr. Galasso saw the potential in me and took the time to offer me advice and insight as an administrator. I wasn't even one of his teachers at the time, and yet he was willing to take a moment to mentor me as if I was. I'm sure he had a million other things to do, but that's one of the great things about him, he always makes time for those who need it. I have witnessed him on multiple occasions physically stop what he is doing, and sacrifice his own time, simply to lend a helping hand. That is just the type of person he is. Mr. Galasso also changed my life when I was offered a position to work under his direct administration. He provided me with an opportunity to continue to work at Highland school, despite having to transition from being a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to becoming a General Education teacher. He trusted me with this new role and had faith that I would do a good job. This is because Mr. Galasso is the type of principal who actually values and trusts his staff members. His effective leadership skills are unmatched and serve as an example to both his employees and his students. We strive to do better and be better simply because he continuously models and reflects that in his own character. The truth is, Mr. Galasso hasn't stopped changing my life. He is constantly presenting us with new opportunities, which sometimes forces me to personally step out of my comfort zone. Deep down, I value these opportunities because I know he is challenging us to help us grow as educators. Throughout the process, he always guides us and makes sure to be encouraging along the way so that it's not overwhelming. In addition, he provides support by finding ways to get whatever resources we may need to help us succeed. Overall, the amount of experience I have gained within the last five school years while working under his administration is immense and I owe it all to Mr. Galasso… Pete, I truly would not be half the educator I am today if it wasn't for your help. Thank you for always believing in me and trusting me. Thank you for all the moments you took the time to listen and mentor, even when you were extremely busy with not just one, but two administrative roles. Thank you for all of your encouraging words throughout the years and even all of the challenging opportunities. Thank you for your on-going support, for fostering my love of technology, and for allowing the ASL Club to come to life. Most of all, thank you for impacting and changing my life for the better. You absolutely deserve this award because I am sure we can all agree that you literally define the term "Life Changer".
Having taught for over 30 years I have been exposed to many different school administrators. I was in my final years of teaching that I had the pleasure of working under the direction of Mr. Galasso as my principal. Mr. Galasso exemplified compassion and dedication to the entire staff that resulted in the best performance from each individual staff member as well as the entire student body. It is because of those attributes that he held, that made my final years of teaching highly memorable. I fully support Mr. Galasso be the recipient of this award, he truly is a life changer and Midland Park School District is very fortunate to have him as the principal of Highland School.
Pete Galasso is an exceptional principal. He is dedicated to the all around well-being of each and every student in his school. He shares his life experiences to personalize the social-emotional lessons he teaches his students and, not the least of which, his staff. Although he is our principal, he is, first and foremost, an exemplary teacher—which is the greatest compliment I can give.
Pete makes great personal sacrifices, leads by example, and motivates everyone in his charge to be their personal best.
I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award than Pete Galasso.
Pete Galasso was the last principal I worked for before retirement. I wish he had been my principal for a longer time. He has many fine qualities, but one that I most appreciated is his ability to listen. Pete is always willing to hear what his teachers and students have to say, and he gives all ideas serious thought. This is not to say he always agrees with us. Sometimes he returns after a conversation and explains why he disagrees. Ideas are always looked at with fairness and deliberation. He gives validation and meaning to suggestions.
He also values veteran teachers as a valuable asset to the school. He makes sure that committees have a cross section of staff members and that all have a contribution to make. Pete treats his staff with trust and respect no matter how long they have been teaching.
I truly enjoyed working for Pete Galasso. It was a pleasure getting to know him he worked with us in the classrooms, at meetings, and wading through the current paper work.
His Do the Right Thing Assemblies have touched the staff as students are recognized for making our school a better place. Mr. Galasso has made Highland School and the Midland Park School District a better place.
Pete Galasso made an immediate impact on the Midland Park schools from the moment he joined our community. As an assistant principal at the high school & the athletic director to now principal of Highland school, Pete has always displayed the highest work ethic to the students and staff. As a staff member of Highland school, I can honestly say that no job or situation is beneath him. Pete brings his core values to us everyday. He is the type of leader that makes you want to go above and beyond because that’s what he does. I don’t mind picking up garbage from the floor because I know he does it also. Everyone at Highland school knows that Pete wants what’s best for each student, staff member and even the physical building. There is no one more deserving of this recognition then Pete Galasso!!!
Peter Galasso is an excellent building principal and even better colleague, confidant, supporter and friend. I am honored to work with Pete because of his attention to detail, thoughtful approach to all situations and insightfulness on school related manners. In the short time we have worked together, Pete has transformed his building and added dynamic classes to enhance the educational experience for all. The Makerspace Lab was his brain-child from floor to ceiling and everything in between. He spent countless hours researching and designing the space to accommodate all learning styles and allow for the creation of a variety of activities. He collaborated with colleagues inside and outside of the district to ensure the space was equipped with the necessary resources in the most accessible manner. He provided time for his staff to use the resources and design their own projects that were aligned with the curriculum. That is just one example of the innovative ideas Pete has brought to his school. His attention to detail is like no other; when new ideas come his way, he is methodically in laying out all the points before moving forward. And he has the ability to see the big picture..he is a global thinker...and even if the project may take months or years to come to fruition he doesn't let it go. I think when he is faced with a challenge, it actually makes him more determined. I am certain before he is ready to move on, he will get his art suite, equipped with ceramic wheels, a kiln, and portrait studio.
Pete is also a people person, his instincts are always on point and his delivery is direct and comforting. He is caring and goes out of his way to ensure students are safe and staff are happy. He works closely with the teachers, the guidance counselor and Child Study Team to help students in need. He finds a way to deliver difficult news with empathy while offering support and outlets to parents and students. Pete and I work closely due to the nature of our positions; he and I are both solo principals and we share several staff members for specials' classes. We dialogue daily and bounce ideas off of each other constantly. I trust his judgement and ask his opinion on a variety of subjects. Sometimes, just having each other to think through scenarios is helpful and leads us to handling a situation in a certain way. He is extremely intelligent and I respect the manner in which he runs his school and collaborates with the staff.
As a principal, Pete wears many hats: educational leader, counselor, manager, technology director, maintenance worker, etc. There is no job he shys away from because he thinks he is above it....he recognizes when a job needs to be done and gets it done. He is beyond dedicated to his school, students, staff and community. He works nights, weekends and holidays to just stay ahead of the curve and ensure his building the best. Pete is so hands-on during the day, visiting classes, greeting kids in the halls, walking the building thinking of his next big idea, that he stays late nightly to do his paperwork and such. Principals have little time to themselves during the school day, I've watched Pete eat his lunch at 3:00pm because he was involved in so many tasks, decisions, meetings, etc that he didn't have time to eat. Pete is so accessible to his staff and parent community that he takes meetings on the spot and never turns anyone away. Pete is approachable which is apparent in all of the new endeavors taking place at Highland School. He is open to ideas that the staff brings forward and gives them the autonomy to investigate it and bring back their thoughts. He empowers his staff to think of new clubs, electives, and school wide activities that will promote community and camaraderie. I admire his his drive and passion and know that is why he was nominated for his award. In the short time he has been principal, he has brought about such dynamic change and energy to his school and our district. As I stated, I am honored to work with him and learn from him and I value the friendship we have created.
Pete is one of the most amazing people I have ever met and I could not think of anyone more deserving of this nomination! He is approachable, respectful, humble, funny, fair, intuitive, compassionate, loyal and one of the most selfless people I know. He is visible in our schools and community and facilitates change all around him, no matter the contact. He not only is an amazing administrator and leader but a wonderful part of our team in school. It is comforting to have his support professionally in meetings, and I feel I can say he is reassuring for families in meetings too. He is real and truly wants what is best for each student. Pete manages to make me laugh and cry at the 6th-grade commencement and with his holiday letter every year. Every word spoken by him and read from him encapsulates genuine connections he makes with individuals and groups, kids and adults, both personally and professionally. Pete is always "there" for everyone. He is someone I appreciate seeing and experiencing all that he does for our kids, our staff and our community. It is hard to put into words all that he is, but easy to say he has and does make such a strong impact on many lives everyday!
Mr.Galasso you are amazing the faculty loves you the teachers do to and so do all of your students you are generous you know everyone you greet them by name and you will always care about the whole school WE LOVE YOU MR.GALASSO
You are the best person in the whole wide world and you are the most generous person ever you always have to work here we would never want you to leave you are amazing you are always amazing and nothing will ever change that!
From the day I stepped foot in Highland school, I was honored to have Mr. Glasso as my principal. He is a strong leader for many people. He sets high standards for himself. He is a role model for every student (including me). He’s caring compassionate, a leader, a friend, empathetic, and much more, He’s honest and humble, and one of my favorite things about him is that he takes time out of his day to make slideshows for the Do The Right Thing Award! He makes students want to be the best that they can be! He puts a positive impact on all the students!! Mr. Galasso truly goes above and beyond to help the school to be a better place! Thank you for all that you have done to make this school a better place! You truly deserve this award!
I love everything you do for us. You work so hard and you work for your family. When I came from Brazil you helped me so much. When I was sad you make me so happy. Thank you for everything!
Dear Mr. Galasso,
You really deserve the life-changer award because you are always very nice to me. I really could never ask for a better principal, you really are the best. What would I do without you? You are the best principal ever and I think you run a really nice school. When I am with you I feel very comfortable. If there were 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 principals I would by a long shot definitely choose you out of all of them. When I graduate from Highland School I will be very sad because I won't get to see you a lot.
You are the best principal in the world. You are trustworthy, caring, so kind and, you mean a lot to me. You definitely deserve the life changer of the year award.
Mr. Gallaso you are such a nice principle you make me smile every day. You are such a polite person and so supportive to me and other people. I always see a smile on your face and me and everybody else will never want a different principle. You're really helpful and you never let people down. You make people smile every day.
Mr.Gallaso is one of the best principals.He is always polite and never doesn't have a smile on his face.Mr.Gallaso should be nominated for the life-changer award because he is kind, helpful, funny, and caring.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal because he is really funny and knows all of the students and staff and we think he should be nominated for this award because he is so nice to everyone he works with. That is why we think he should win the award
Hello Mr. Galasso, it's me Emma you have been a great principle this year! I hope you stay that way. I want you to please be awsome your whole year at Highland school. Please, Please, Please, Please, Please stay an AMAZING principle!
Why I think Mr.Galasso should win the award is because he is really kind and lets nobody down to the bad and shameful world but he lets people become great teachers or students. You truly help the community out. I truly am so grateful for him and for teaching this school since he was 11yrs old. You have been there for me and my friends. We all love you so much for you being here and changing the 125yrs of Midland Park. He always has done so much for this school and we all appreciate your help in this community. We love you so much I hope you know that. Love Xavien
Hello Mr. Galasso, it's me Brooklyn and I think you are a great printable. I truly think you are a STAR at being a printable not because you are the person who is at this school every day, it's because you do more than to look out for your students, you've been a leader and you've been there for teachers and kids in need. I want you to win the award because you are full of kindness, and you are thoughtful and so funny! This school is a great place, so thank you. P.S. you deserve this award, so keep up the GREAT work!
Keep this good work in mind, and you'll surely win the AWARD!!!
Thank you for being the best principal in the world. Every time I am walking in the halls and I see Mr. Galasso he always says hi and always has a smile on his face. When I first got to Highland school I didn't think it would be fun, but when I met Mr.Galasso I knew it was going to be better. He also always gives you a fistbump whenever you see him. I really like his Do The Right Thing Assemblies too.
Mr.Golaso you are the best presale ever because you were printable when dan and Sean were in Highland School I don't know if you were presentable when my dad and his brothers were in Highland. probably not but now you have me and I'm so glad that I was the next in line and next year you'll have my brother. I'm so proud of you for being a great printable. You deserve the award
Dear Mr.Galasso
My brother and I really look up to you, you have really good advice. You are so kind and thoughtful. You make every day all the time everybody smile that you see. I think that you totally deserve to be nominated.
Dear Mr.Galasso
You are the best principal anyone could ever have. I've Hade two other principal and if I had to choose one that would be you. You are kind, funny. In all the assembles you make it fun for us but we also learn. Something I really love is that you give fist bumps not hugs but fun manly fistbumps. You always make people laugh; you know almost everyone you could call them by their last name. My little brother is in preschool but when he comes in third grade he will love you. When people get in trouble you make them feel better and try to solve the problem without yelling. I think you deserve this reward.
Mr.Galasso
You are a very nice person to me and I would like to thank you for that you are very sweet, generous and trustworthy thank you.
Dear Mr.Galasso
When I first came to Highland, I was nervous, but the moment I walked in the school I loved it because of you! Even our
parents have been talking about what a good principal you are. I never want to leave this school because there is the best principal ever in this school ????????????
Mr. Galosso,
He is the best principal in the world. He is so kind. He does so much for our school. Mr. Galasso disorves the award so much.
Dear Mr. Galasso, I am happy that you are my principal. You are so nice to plan all the do the right thing assembilies. You always greet us with a smile.?????
Mr. Galasso is very kind, enthusiastic, and thoughtful. He is always friendly to us when we walk down the hall. He is the best principal ever!
Mr. Galasso is an outstanding districtwide administer and school building leader/principal. He takes time to know every child who attends Highland School. Each child is welcomed and made to feel part of the Highland School family. Every student regardless of their strengths, weaknesses or special needs become part of the school environment and culture. He provides the opportunity for all students to be included by ensuring participation in school activities, electives, general education classes, promotes inclusion opportunities whenever possible. One class, of students were welcomed by delivering the school with weekly weather forecasts which are announced each Friday afternoon. These announcements not only make the students feel like they have an important job, allows them the recognition by their non-disabled peers, and promotes a positive self-esteem. It is not unusual for others to witness the positive energy which resonates in halls and classes in the upper elementary school. Students receive on-going words of praise, encouragement, and receive recognition for doing the right thing, acts of kindness or just giving it their best try or effort.
Prior to students coming to Highland School, Mr. Galasso allows them to visit and tour the Highland building. A face to face meeting with him and the teacher is also scheduled. This effort reduces their anxiety and makes the child feel comfortable in their surroundings prior to being there. These school visits usually take place during the summer prior to the start of the school year so the student can transition to his/her new environment without uncertainty.
When students struggle, Mr. Galasso takes the time to provide the student additional support before, during, and after school. Close monitoring of the student and discussions with the teachers also take place. One student received homework support after school with Mr. Galasso on a one to one basis for the entire year. This child was able to complete his homework, turn it in and obtain credit. Due to the consistency and special support, the student was successful and passed his classes moving up to the middle school.
Another student had experienced school refusal last year. Mr. Galasso walked to the student’s home on a few occasions and encouraged him to come to school with him. He would continually call to check in on the student and offer assistance on a regular basis as he often took it personally when a student refused to attend school. Leading by example, taking this initiative and level of encouragement exceeds ones expectations of what a principal would ever attempt. Yet, Mr. Galasso performed this task of walking to the child’s home to encourage school participation and decreased anxiety as an outstanding leader and role model.
No role is out of his grasp. Mr. Galasso assists teachers, and custodians in moving classroom furniture, shovels the walk way, or helps prepare for assemblies. He continues to improve upon the building needs utilizing a team approach. He creatively created new classrooms and conference areas to maximize space for all. Mr. Galasso always is considering all options. His efforts are endless for the good of the students and staff. Everyone has an optimal learning environment reaching the goal of academic success.
Administratively, Mr. Galasso takes on additional job responsibilities to bring the district forward. During the last two years, Mr. Galasso has been the Curriculum Director and Principal. Both jobs are monumental and require time to focus on details. Due to his high expectations, he does not delegate any of the responsibility to others. As a result, countless hours are spent on the job prior and well after the school day. Mr. Galasso continues to perform two jobs, excelling at both the Highland School Principal and Curriculum Coordinator. Our district is blessed to have such a life changer, outstanding and resourceful leader as an administrator for our district.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal because He makes people feel better when they are sad. He is kind to everyone. He likes to help people. He has helped me by choosing me for The Do The Right Thing award This changed my life and made me happy. This is only one of the many reasons he deserves the Life Changer Of The Year.
Mr. Galasso is always funny and kind. He always puts me in a good mood, like calling me fun special nicknames, for example, elf or half-orc because of my love for fantasy games. It always makes me laugh. So, I think he should not just get the award for this year, but also every year to come.
Mr. Galasso I truly an amazing principal. He is very funny , but is also serious when it comes to important stuff. Mr. Galasso has changed my life in many different ways. He has taught me to persevere and to put my self in other people's shoes. He has changed the way I feel about other people. I am very thankful for what he has given us. Mr. Galasso is different from everyone else because he goes above and beyond to make kids happy and proud. Mr. Galasso is an amazing man and he is a life-changing principal.
He is always so kind to all of his students and teachers. He also teaches all of his student's life lessons or to be a good person so. This is why I nominate Mr. Glalasso.
Mr. Galasso is an unbelievable person. He never yells and is always kind. I've never seen someone always so happy. For example, when he sees me in the hallway he'll say "hi" and give me a fist pump or pat me on the back, and that always makes my day. That's why he should get this award.
Mr. Galasso is an outstanding principal. He makes everyone smile every day. If you are having a bad day he will make you feel better. I was sad and upset and he made me happy. He is a life changer because he gave all the kids Chromebooks to work on and to learn.
Mr.Galasso is the best principal because he always helps us when we need it and is always on top of things when they go wrong. He is always trying to find ways to improve things to help us as students. He also goes above and beyond with our teachers to make sure that we get the best education. He is a great man and we all hope that he will be greatly known as Life Changer of the Year.
Mr.Galasso is always smiling and always says hello to all students in the hall. He is always kind and provides us with everything we need to learn like Chromebooks, desks, and amazing teachers. This is why Mr, Galasso should get the life changer of the year award. He really has changed my life.
I think Mr. Galasso should have been nominated because he is very funny and always says hi. If he sees someone that is upset he always tries to cheer them up. He also always tries to make our school a better place and help us out. This is why Mr. Galasso should have been nominated.
Mr. Galasso cares about every individual in this school. One time I came to school crying and when Mr. Galasso saw me he immediately asked me if I was ok and if I wanted to go to the guidance counselor. When he took me to the guidance counselors office and she wasn't there he stayed with me until she showed up. I've seen many situations like this not only with students but also with staff members. Mr. Galasso definitely deserves this award.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal! He likes to talk to kids and help kids. He also is very athletic and very supportive. For example, he likes to teach kids through cool assemblies and speeches.
Mr.Galasso should win because he takes care of us by letting every kid and teacher have Chromebooks and he's teaching us new ways on how to learn.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal that I ever had. He always makes people feel better when they are down. He always tries to improve our school whenever he can, like getting the school Chromebooks and a maker space lab. He really deserves this award because he is an amazing principal and he is super nice. Mr. Galasso deserves this award more than anybody. For these reasons, I nominate Mr. Galasso for the LifeChanger of the year.
I nominate Mr.Galassso because he always makes my day. He is so kind and funny. I remember a time I was not having a good day. I passed him in the hallway, he gave me a fist-pump and that made me feel better. THANK YOU Mr.Galasso.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because he treats every student like his kids. He always keeps the school safe and his students safe. Another reason is he treats his faculty like family and welcomes them very nicely. This is why I nominate Mr. Galasso for The life-changer of the year award.
he is the best principal on the word because he helps people and him like help people a lot so a want to give him something for her holidays with her family
Dear Mr.Galasso
I am so grateful that you are my principal you are so kind and helpful. If a student needs your help you are there and
sometimes he greats people at the door and it puts a smile on my face. He does so much for this school and I really think that Mr.Galasso should win this award he is a wonderful principal and he deserves it.
I nominate Mr.Gollasso because he has a smile on his face every day. He makes me feel like I'm home. On the first day of school,he gave me a huge fist bump. He's there for me and always will be. He is the one that bought everything in the school. He is kind, smart, trustworthy,cool, and much much more. He is the reason I am here. He deserves to be the LifeChangerOftheYear.
Dear Mr.Galasso,
I nominate you because of your kindness you know everybody's name and you always stay stuff in pride. He helps people feel happy when they're in an argument they get back together because of him.
Certain people, are influential, and it is always nice to look back and think of those people and appreciate the things that they said, and sometimes did. It is going to be hard to put into words, the amount of care, and preparation that Mr. Galasso puts into everyday at Highland School. Every student, every faculty member, and every parent, he plans for. Everyone who knows him, knows that when he says hes going to do something, he does. When he says hes going to help figure things out, he will. When he says he cares about the students and staff at his school, he proves it. His mind is constantly on the go to make things better for everyone. He has worked almost every job you can think of since he was 11 years old, and no position is beneath him. He is willing to take on anything, even if it means less sleep and no meals. His ability to empathize with his staff and students is admirable. Striving to make his assemblies engaging and fun for the kids, and staff, he sometimes has his children watch his power points first to make sure they laugh. He puts his students first, always. He makes sure they treat each other with respect and holds them accountable when they aren't. They are noticed and praised for lifting each other up, and doing good in the school. He is constantly trying to motivate and keep things fresh for his school. He has started amazing programs for the kids where they can learn what its like to help others, and interact outside of the school setting as well. He has made an unbelievable amount of positive changes inside the school too. He truly does think of his staff as family, and his students, he would do anything for, never giving up on them, or the potential he sees inside them. Being a vice principal of MP high school in the past, and also a coach, he knows what these kids need from a young age. To feel important, to have someone they can trust in their lives, and to have someone that believes in them even it takes a bunch of trials in the process. He reminds me of Mr. Clark from the movie Lean on Me, without the yelling. Hes whole heartedly changing the lives of these children, and staff members day by day. We love you so much Mr. Galasso, and are so incredibly proud of you. You work so hard, not for recognition, but because that's who you are, and we are all so thankful for you. Love, your wife and family
Mr. Galasso is one of the greatest principals in the world. He works hard to make the school bully-free and much more. He works so much to keep all the grades under control and help children during situations. He works hard to keep us safe and make fun for everyone. He holds many events like the Panther Prowl and Field Day. This is why I nominate Mr. Galasso for Life changer of the year.
Dear Mr. Galasso,
you are a great printable at Highland school. Everybody here in Highland school had their voices heard. When I walk into Highland school every morning, I see you. That shows me you are here every day and you care about Highland school. In an assembly, I feel like you always know what to say and you have a meaning to your speech. I truly think you're a GREAT printable here at Highland school. The reason you're great very good printable is you, have a big, big heart and you truly help the kids in this community. Thank you for everything you've done!
Mr. Galasso let me sit with more kids at the nut-free table. He lets me sit with 4 kids instead of 2 kids at lunch!
I nominate Mr. Golasso because he is a great principal. He buys all of the Chromebooks in this school for us to learn. We are all really happy when we see him. He makes us want to go to highland school. Mr. Golasso should be the life changer of the year.
I nominate Mr.Glasso because he is so kind to everyone in the school.Mr. Galasso is happy all the time when every we have a fundraiser he says if we get a lot of money he says we can get a school wid no homework night. He comes a lot to are games on the weekend just for the students.HE is all I can ask for. When Ever there is a holiday he says don't go on your phone talk to your family That's why he shod get the prize.
MrGalasso is a grate when ever i see him we smile at echother
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he always would help us No matter what happens. He can always be generous and kind!!! He would always remind us to be kind!!! He would tell us that we were amazing kids!!! I can always count on you no matter what!!! You always have everyone's backs. You make us good kids. We watch movies. Mr. Galasso should WIN!!!
I nominated Mr.Galosso because you are so kind you are the best at being having kindness. And respectful. You make me smile and say hi. There is always a smile on your face. You are so friendly. And you are so a good principal. MR.Galasso You should win!
you are so kind you always have a smile on your face. Thank you for being the nicest that you can be to us thank you!
Mr.Galasso you are the best principle a little kid can ask for you care for us you care. You truly deserve this nomination and we all care about you and we are never mean to anyone we love this school and we never want to leave we want to stay in this school for our whole lives. He buys us really expensive Chromebooks for us to do work on IXL and Reflex. The whole school loves you
So we really hope that you get another nomination
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he is calm and patient with other teachers and students. He is also a kind and loving person that always stands up for people that are feeling down. He truly deserves the award because he pays and helps the community out with problems that have to be fixed. In conclusion, I think he should win the award.
Mr.Galasso is the best principal in the world. He loves to get fist bumps and likes being a principal. He checks on us and he gives fist bumps. He can help us if we are stuck he helps us push through. Mr. Galasso is the best principal hands down. He gives us fair punishment when we are being bad. He does not use bad punishment. If he were in a different school I would go right to the school he's at. I am happy he is at Highland Elementry School. He will win the nomination and I now it. Mr. Galasso is the best principal ever and he will always will be the best principal. He can be a little silly sometimes but not like Mr. Rappoli. He can always be silly like when he comes into our classroom. That's the end of my email.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is always smiling and very funny Once on the harvest festival I didn't get my ticket \ wrist band he helped me and found me a BRAND NEW ONE that is why I would like to nominate MR. GALASSO.
I nominate Mr.Galasso because he isn't a boring principal. If you say hi to him in the hallway, he doesn't just say hi back. He gives you a pat on the back and gives you a hi-five, and a compliment. If anybody in the school gets sick he always starts a fundraiser for there health.
I nominate Mr.Galasso, He always greets me every morning or when I get into the school. when I walk in the hallway when I see him he greets me too. he always has a smile on his face. I like how he always has a nice expression on his face and anywhere else. I also like how he gives a hiss bump to students when they walk into the building. he always says hi to people when they pass by. he is always happy when I see him. I never saw him mad and I hope I never will. he always has a warm greeting. he is the best principal in the whole wide world.
I nominate Mr.Galosso because he understands that my middle name ends with an e. I think our awesome principal should win.
Mr. Galasso changed my life by asking me to do the weekend weather report for the whole school. I like doing the weekend weather report because I like making announcements to the whole school.
Mr. Galasso is very accepting and kind. I like his Do The Right Thing assembly and he always does the right thing for us as our principal. He definitely deserves to win this award.
Mr. Galsso is my life changer because he has helped me through so much and so many hard times. When I first moved to Midland Park, I had no idea what to do and he was always there for me. You are my life changer. For this, I nominate you for always doing the right thing. You deserve it!
Mr. Galasso always keeps the school in order. He makes sure that kids do not get into arguments or fights with one another. Thank you for supporting the school.
I believe Mr. Galasso should get the Life Changer of the Year award for many reasons. First, because he turned me into a great kid. On my first day at Highland when I was in the 3rd grade, I was in the office 3 times. I would talk back to teachers and be extremely rude because I couldn't control my temper. After being in detention every day of the month Mr. Galasso still had hope in me. He would always say "I know you're a good kid." but I wouldn't listen. So the next year, I listened to Mr. Galasso. After noticing how Mr. Galasso, my parents, and my teachers genuinely wanted to help, I listened. For one day I said I would listen. "I won't talk back," I said. "I won't be disrespectful," I said. 4th grade was a great school year, I rarely would get in trouble and it felt so much better to not go through every day thinking "I wonder what I'm going to do in detention." Then 5th grade passed, I did pretty good, maybe a little worse than 4th grade but it was amazing. And now I'm in 6th grade. Do you ever look at a picture of your younger self and just notice how much you changed? That's how I feel when I look back to 3rd grade, not only had I grown in height and weight, I had grown as a person, I understand that school is for growth. Not only do you learn math and science, you learn how to be a good person, and when Mr. Galasso is your principal, that's something he won't let you leave without knowing. This is why I believe Mr. Galasso is an impeccable principal who should get this award.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because of how nice he is. Mr. Galasso is the nicest principle I have ever had. One time he dove into the dumpster to find a kids retainer. Mr. Galasso always takes time out of his day and helps us 3rd through 6th graders all the time. He makes assemblies amazing and he gives out an award for the nicest acts of kindness by kids in any grade. If I was the principle I would nominate him for the Do The Right Thing award every time we have that assembly. Mr. Galasso would do anything for us and we would do anything for him. I think Mr. Galasso deserves this award "Life Changer of the Year".
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he is always so happy. He is always so nice too. And he is a very epic principal. He really cares about every student and every teacher in this school. He always treats us with respect and I am very happy that he is our principal. He gets us chrome books and other great stuff. It is also cool when if you are in the hallway he will give you a fist bump. And I think it is really cool that Mr. Galasso makes all of these awards for kids that do the right thing. Overall Mr. Galasso is the best principal that I have ever had. This is why I think Mr. Galasso should get the Life Changer of the Year Award. ??
Mr.Galasso is a great principal! He cares about his students and their happiness. I have never met a principal who was so understanding and actually cared if we were okay. He is a very busy person and he actually stops his very busy day to make sure we're okay and happy. Whenever I see him in the hallway he always gives me a fistbump which can sometimes be the highlight of my day. I can't believe this is my last year with him, he truly has made a difference in my life. Not only does he care about his students very much he cares very much about his teachers. He is funny, kind, caring, and an amazing principal. Thank you for being a great principal and always making sure I was happy! This and much more is why I nominate Mr.Galasso for the life changer of the year. ??
Mr. Galasso, a funny, and especially cool person, I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso.
Mr. Galasso sure is a cool person, firstly, he's the principal of our school which is outstandingly cool! What makes him cool is that not only is he just serious and focused, but he also leaves some room for being funny as well. Which makes Mr. Galasso an amazing, beyond awesome person!
Even though I don't really know him, he is an amazing guy, he helps out and especially makes school fun for us, I or maybe the whole school wouldn't be what it is now without Mr. Galasso, he's just one of those amazing people who really stand out from all the bunch.
I am so happy that Mr. Galasso got nominated for the life-changer of the year award. Mr. Galassso is the best principal I've ever had. Whenever I walk down the hall he always says "Hi Deblas". It is so special that your principal has a nickname for so many kids. We get just enough freedom to express ourselves, but also to keep the school running smoothly. Whenever someone is in need Mr. Galasso has our school help. Having everyone help opens so many student's eyes including mine. He takes care of the school so nicely. I am so grateful that I moved to a school that has such an amazing principal. Mr. Galasso thanks for being such a great principal, and congrats!!
Mr. Galasso is a great principal. He was my principal since 3rd grade. He is fair and he makes sure everything is under control. He makes everything fun like assemblies. His assemblies have good meanings behind them and are very nice. He is helpful and he even dove into the dumpster to help someone find their retainer.
Dear Mr.Galasso,
I have to say that you are the most inspiring person I have ever met. I live off of your words, assemblies, and lectures. I have learned many great things about you and this school over the time I have been with you. You are nice to everyone. You are stern but have such a kind heart. I can't believe that this is my last year in this school. Thank you Mr.Galasso for changing my life for the better.
You're the kindest principal I've ever had. I know that you believe in every trouble maker and kid who's had a rough past. Mr. Galasso goes out of the way to make fun and purposeful things happen throughout the year. He cares about each and every student here and treats us like we're his own.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he has helped us all be the people that we are today. He gave us all the things that we have today, as he gave us our computers and he gave us all of these things and that is why we are so lucky to have him today. He always has fun plans for us to do so that we are never bored. He is the one that lets us have Spirit Day, Color Wars, and even Pajama Day. If we hadn't had this amazing principal then I don't know what we would have done without him.
He is so kind and nice. He has turned me into a good kid and not just me, he has changed so many students and even makes school fun. Mr. Galasso makes everyone's day.
Mr. Galasso is one of the greatest principals in the world. He works hard to make the school bully-free and much more. He works so much to keep all the grades under control and help children during situations. He works hard to keep us safe and make fun for everyone. He holds many events like the Panther Prowl and Field Day. This is why I nominate Mr. Galasso for Life changer of the year.
Mr. Glasso is an amazing principal for our school. He does amazing things for our school like field day, spirit week, and more. I want to say Thank you for doing what you are good at every day.
Mr.Galasso has changed many lives and inspired so many people. He always puts his students before him, he loves every student and he deserves to be rewarded. He treats every kid with kindness and changes their whole life from a single speech. That is why he is a life changer.
Congrats Mr. Galasso for being nominated. You are the best principal I've had. Even better than the principle in my other school.
Thank you for always helping me in any and every issue I have and thank you for just listening.
Mr. Galasso is so nice and kind, he lets us have more fun at school and helping us and supporting every day and helping everyone./z
I want to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a very kind and generous person! He has a lot of wisdom and does a lot for Highland School! I would love for him this award because he deserves it so much!
Thank you for being the best principal ever! You really do change the school.
Mr Galasso has been my principle since I was in third grade. He truly does deserve the life changer of the year award and here are some of the many reasons why. He makes everyone feel safe and comfortable in Highland School and he has changed my life for the better. Every single assembly he has has a message to send us. He makes every single assembly fun for everyone. During his Do The right thing assemblies he teachers nominate us for doing the right thing and it is a huge reward. During the do the right thing assemblies he recognizes each of us for the awards we earn over the school year. There is principles list, honor roll, and the best award to get is the Iron Man(Woman) award. Mr. Galasso takes pride in all of his work and he does everything to the best of his ability, and he definitely deserves the life change of a year award. Mr. Galasso loves each and every one of us and knows each student by name. Whenever I pass him in the hall he gives each of us a fist bump and says, "Hi," "Good morning," and he calls each of us by our name. I love the friendly fist bump that I always get. Mr. Galasso does everything for our school and he loves the teachers, staff, and students as much as he loves his own kids at home. All in all, Mr Galasso completely deserves the life changer of the year award.
Mr. Galasso is a very nice principal. He is very supportive of everyone. He is very funny and nice to everyone. Mr. Galasso does everything he can for students, like pay for their Chromebooks so they can work on different things at home and have access to fun learning websites. Thank you for everything you do at Highland School.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a life changer, and he changed my life by being very kind and fair. He always walks down the hallways with a smile on his face and when he says "Hi" to someone he always does it with a fist-bump and a smile on his face. He deserves the life changer of the year award.
Mr. Galasso thank you for being the best principal ever! You are very nice and always help when kids or adults need it. You always are nice to people. When I need help with things you are always there to help. You let us have fun assemblies and have fun spirit weeks and days. I can't ask for a better principal. Thank you for always being there for everyone. You deserve this award.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso for the life changer of the year award for many reasons: he is kind, understanding, fair and overall the coolest principal ever. Mr. Galasso makes everyone feel equal. He gives everyone a fair chance and applies all rules to everyone. He always has our best interest in mind and always finds a way to make school fun. I appreciate everything he does for me and I'm so grateful to have him as my principal.
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso for the Life Changer of the Year for numerous reasons. Mr.Galasso inspires me to work harder every day. Mr.Galasso makes sure everyone is treated right and wants the best for us at all times. I wouldn't want to ask for any other principal and Mr.Galasso listens to our ideas. Whenever Mr.Galasso sees us in the hallway he gives us fist bumps and says hi. In conclusion, I think Mr.Galasso should get the Life Changer of the Year Award.
Mr. Galasso deserves this award. Mr. Galasso is the best principal ever. He cares about the school and the people in it. He treats us like we are family. When he sees a student in the hall he gives a fist bump then says a nice comment to them. One time a student fell at the playground and he came outside to see if everything was okay. He helped her up then took her to the school nurse. Mr. Galasso also has a cool reward system. He talks about how the year has been going and then he reads paragraphs about a student that was nominated. At the end of him reading the paragraphs, he says the person's name. The person goes up and Mr. Galasso gives the person a fist bump and a tee shirt. Mr. Galasso does a lot of work for us and the school. Sometimes I think he does too much. Sometimes he even goes to the student's basketball games. Mr. Galasso definitely deserves this award.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a great principal at or school and he really cares about the school, employees, and the students. Someone fell on the playground and he came out to see if everything was ok. He also says "Hi" to everyone in the hall and he likes giving fist bumps to all the kids. He makes the kids laugh and smile when they are sad. He is always calling everyone by their last name which I think is cool. He came to my baseball game one time and I was happy when I saw him at the game.
Mr. Galasso you are the best principal any student and teacher could ask for. You greet everybody very kindly and you help everybody, small problem or big problem you help anybody in need. When I walked into this school I was nervous. I mean all these big kids walking and running down the hallways, but look at me I'm so small. But once I learned how kind this school was, I felt comfortable. And that's because of you Mr. Galasso. You welcomed me into this great place and I thank you for that. And you've helped when I had any problems. And when I'm working really hard in math class I see all of the nice relationships the teachers have with you and each other. You treat everybody equally and fair. What I think about this place, I love this school and the staff is the best staff in the world. That's why I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso.
I nominate Mr. Galasso for the Life Changer of the Year Award because he does so much for our school. He makes sure there are no problems, and if there are he fixes them no matter what. Whenever he has a Do The Right Thing assembly, I always learn something. He gives great advice, and he is so nice. He really dedicates so much to this school. Overall, he should win the Life Changer of the Year Award.
Mr. Galasso is so kind and he is never unfair. He always helps people and cares when they have to reach out to him. He is nice to the teachers and students. Mr. Galasso is a good man. He also deserves everything that comes to him. That is why he is nominated.
For the past 4 years, Mr. Galasso has been my principal. Truly, he is a life-changer in many ways. He is not only a great principal but is kind, funny, and caring. He truly does care for all of his students and is so kind to all of them. He encourages everyone to be the best they can be. He always wants everyone to try their best and work hard.
One amazing thing he does is something called a Do The Right Thing assembly. He asks teachers if they have any students they'd like to nominate and if so write about why they are getting the award. Even for those who don't get it, it is really amazing to watch how he awards us students for being good. For the students who do get it, it makes them feel good and special.
It is not only the students who he is so kind to, but he is very kind to the teachers as well. He makes jokes with everyone which puts them in a happy mood. He is always looking to put a smile on everyone's face. For these reasons and more, I believe that Mr. Galasso deserves the Life Changer of the Year award.
Mr.Galasso is very caring, he takes great care of the school and great care of the students. He takes his time listening to what everyone has to say. He makes everyone laugh and he explains everything with kindness and respect. He shows justice and respect to everyone. He is fair on everything and loves to help out. He never gives up. He takes care of the teachers and he cares for every single one of them, if they make a mistake he will forgive them. All I have to say is that I would like to award Mr.Galasso because he is very kind, he respects everyone, he cares for everyone and shows justice to all.
I would like to award Mr. Galasso because he is an astonishing principal. Whether it's when we are walking down the hall, or in his office, he is kind and genuine to all around him. He is constantly trying to empower his students into becoming the best students they can be so they can excel up at the high school and in years to come. By giving speeches and lessons at the Do The Right Thing assemblies, he creates a safe environment for the school and the people we share it with. He approaches my peers and me with a smile and comforting way, and is always trying to improve our school so we can be excited to learn. He truly is a life changing principal.
I would like it if Mr. Galasso would be awarded the Lifechanger of the year because he is a very chill person. He always greets people in the hallways and holds the door for everyone. He has changed so many lives throughout his career and continues to do so. He treats others the way he wants to be treated and he is very funny. He is super cool and I can see a lot of people look up to him. He is a great person and that is why he should be nominated for the LifeChanger of the year, because that's what he does!
I nominate Mr.Galasso because every time I see him in the hallway he always gives me a fist bump and he is very kind to me.
Mr. Galasso is always fair with his students and teachers. He always has trouble saying my last name and now every time we meet, he gives me a fist bump and practices my last name. It's sort of funny. It's nice to have a principal that is so nice and caring.
Mr. Galasso is a very funny person but also a fun person. He does a lot of things that he doesn't have to do. To him, we come first. He wants our school to be fun. He wants us to have a good time here at this school. He does the Do The Right Thing Award, he does Pj days and Spirit week, and a bunch of other things. He makes me feel safe at this school. The other day when he saw me opening my locker he said, " Not trying to steal anything from anyone else's locker," That made me laugh. He is the best principal ever. If he was not here I would hate this school, but thanks to him he makes me want to learn and have fun at school. I don't know what I would do if he was not the principal here at this school.
Mr. Galasso is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I hope that he wins because all of the students know how awesome he is at being our principal.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal ever. He always is open to new ideas and will always try his hardest. He knows everyone's name and is constantly kind. He always greets everyone with a smile on his face. He lets us go on fun field trips and buys us Chromebooks so we learn more. Overall, he is the greatest principal and should win.
Mr. Galasso is a kind, remarkable and passionate principal who puts his heart and soul into Highland School!! His love for the students shines and he has this special bond with them. He personally greets us by our first names and at times, friendly fist bumps when he meets us in the halls which always puts a smile on our faces. He always puts a smile on my face. He truly makes my day when I see him. He is funny, sweet and fun to be around. We are truly blessed to have him as a principal!
Highland School is very inspiring, my old school was a bummer. There were bullies everywhere and principals would change constantly. Mr. Galasso changed it all. The best teachers are here, the best custodians are here, and the best principal is here. Mr. Galasso is my family’s savior.
Mr. Galasso is a kind, wise, and funny person. He is a great person to look up to. He is the best principal I have had.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal ever. He calls me by my last name which I like that he does that. He does it to a lot of kids and they all love that. He gives out fist bumps to us and we all love it. He sets up a Do The Right Thing Assembly and all the kids in the school love it. He also plays around with the kids and the teachers in this school. He has definitely made this school a great place.
A lot of the time in the morning I don't want to go to school, but then I remember he is the principal and I am always the first out the door.
I’ve been at Highland for 4 years now and Mr. Galasso has been my principal the whole time. Right away I knew I would like it here. Mr. Galasso had built such a warm, welcoming environment around this school and all of the first-day-jitters went away. When I was in third grade, I started at Highland and I was a nervous little eight-year-old girl, who was about to walk into a new school for the first time. I was scared, being so little in a big school, but we had an assembly and I met Mr. Galasso. He was nice and told me that he knew my older brother who was a sixth-grader that year and he was going to leave Highland that year. Ever since then, coming to school has just been fun. When I see him in the hallways, he says hello and gives me a fist-bump. He knows each and every one of his students and calls them all by their last names. It’s been four years since I first stepped foot in Highland and now that I’m in sixth grade, I’m going to leave Highland this year. But, Mr. Galasso has made this experience memorable. He definitely deserves this award.
Mr.Galasso is a fantastic principal. He is super nice and is always willing to help. He has shown amazing traits including caring, compassion, and love for his students. These traits are what make him one of the best principals I have ever met. When he walks by he always has a smile on his face and is ready to fist bump any student. He always makes sure we're safe and happy. He is truly the best principal I have ever met.
Mr.Galasso has been my principal for four years now and those have been the best four years I've ever had in school before. Now in 6th grade, I realized how awesome Mr.Galasso is and all the things he does to make our school a better environment for learning. He always gives me/everyone fist bumps or high fives when he sees us in the hallway. Mr.Galasso is an amazing principle but mostly an amazing person. Our school would not be the same without him and everyone is thankful for him. Highland school would be lost without our awesome principal Mr.Galasso. He definitely deserves this award.
I would nominate Mr.Galasso because he is a really good person and an even better principal. He always opens up to the students in the school and he has a special connection with all of the students. He has nicknames for a lot of the students and loves to give fist bumps to everyone that walks past him. If you do something wrong he doesn't yell at you, instead he has a conversation with you, you learn from this and you go on with your day. He has really good at slide shows at the Do The Right Thing assembly. Mr.Galasso's slide shows are really good because he makes them really inspiring for all of the students in Highland. For example, he showed us a video about how some kids have to climb mountains to get to school and we should be lucky that we go to school in cars, buses, and sometimes we walk. Mr.Galasso is one of the selfless people I have ever met. He is a very busy man but he goes out of his way to do things for us like making assemblies fun and making the Walk A Thon for Mrs.Smith which was really nice. That's why I think that Mr.Galasso the best principal ever and should win the Life Changer of the Year Award.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal ever. He calls me by my last name which I like that he does that. He does it to a lot of kids and they all love that. He gives out fist bumps to us and we all love it. He sets up a Do The Right Thing Assembly and all the kids in the school love it. He also plays around with the kids and the teachers in this school. He has definitely made this school a great place.
A lot of the time in the morning I don't want to go to school, but then I remember he is the principal and I am always the first out the door.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a great principal and he is a hard worker. I like when he calls me by my last name and before a school concert he fist bumps everybody and says good luck. He does a lot of fun activities for this school like Field Day and field trips for each grade. I think Mr. Galasso should win the LifeChanger of the Year award.
Mr. Galasso is an amazing principal. He cares for the school as much as he does about himself. He is understanding and he always has great ideas for the school. I love how he came up with the Do the Right Thing award. I always look forward to those great assemblies! I like how he says hi to every student and staff that he sees. I also like how he gives fist bumps to students as he walks by them. I look up to Mr. Galasso and I will be sad to leave him at the end of 6th grade.
Mr. Galasso is truly an amazing person. He knows everyone by name and really cares about what is happening in everyone’s life. I think that he has changed everybody’s life in some way. I’m sad to be leaving Highland and to leave the incredible environment he has made for us. He has a sense of humor and creates such a feeling of comfort for all of his students. When he walks into a room and says, “How are you?” he truly means it. He cares so much about other people and that’s why I think he deserves the Lifechanger of the Year award. He truly deserves it. The lessons he’s taught everyone through the Do the Right Thing assemblies are so inspirational. Things I would have never known to think about, he taught me and many other students. To know that he can teach us life lessons with mistakes he’s made is amazing. He is an unforgettable person and an unforgettable principal.
I have been here for three years and Mr. Galasso is a great principal and person. He is nice and someone that you can trust and believe in. I love how he does so much for the community here in Midland Park. I am in 6th grade and I am upset to leave, but I know that this awesome school will be in the best hands. I have been to three different schools and by far Mr. Galasso is the best principal I have ever had. He is someone that cares about his students like they are family. For these reasons, I think Mr. Galasso would definitely deserve this wonderful award. Congratulations Mr. Galasso!
Mr. Galasso is an amazing principal. He cares for the school as much as he does about himself. He is understanding and he always has great ideas for the school. I love how he came up with the Do the Right Thing award. I always look forward to those great assemblies! I like how he says hi to every student and staff that he sees. I also like how he gives fist bumps to students as he walks by them. I look up to Mr. Galasso and I will be sad to leave him at the end of 6th grade.
I want to nominate Mr.Galasso because, at Highland School, he makes everyone feel happy. When you walk through the hall and he sees you he'll call you by your last name or a nickname and then give you a fist bump. When I first got to Highland in 3rd grade, he made all of us new kids welcome to the school and he helped us when there were tough times at school. Sometimes I would have to go to his office, but he wouldn't be furious with me. He would be cool, calm, and collected. This really made me feel better about myself. He also created the Do The Right Thing Assembly which makes kids motivated to become nice to everybody in the school. He has even come to some of my basketball games which was pretty cool. Overall, I think he should definitely win the Life Changer Of The Year Award.
Mr. Galasso is an amazing principal. He has done many wonderful things for our school, and I always enjoy being a student here at Highland School. I love how he always seems to be in a good mood, except for when you mention hugs or feelings to him. Mr. Galasso is always doing the right thing, greeting people and cheering us up. He always tries to make things better and wants us to try our best. Mr. Galasso should be nominated for the Life Changer of the Year award.
Mr.Galasso is the best principal. All the things he has done for this school are amazing. He created the Do The Right Thing Assembly. When I see him in the halls he calls me by my last name all the time. He does that to a lot of kids in this school. When we walk in the halls he always asks, "How are you?". Sometimes he talks about sports in the halls. He made Highland School the greatest place to be. Sometimes I really don't want to go to school but when I get there I see him and he gives me a good greeting then I feel better.
Mr. Galasso is the best principal I have ever had. He treats everyone with respect. When Mr. Galasso does the DO THE RIGHT THING AWARD it makes the students feel like they matter.
Thank you for being the best principal in the world. Every time I am walking in the halls and I see Mr. Galasso he always says hi and always has a smile on his face. When I first got to Highland school I didn't think it would be fun, but when I met Mr.Galasso I knew it was going to be better. He also always gives you a fistbump whenever you see him. I really like his Do The Right Thing Assemblies too.
Mr. Galasso has always been a great principal to me. I've had a wonderful time at HIghland School because of him. He always does the right thing. He knows how to help the students best he can, and cares about everyone. Mr. Galasso is funny, smart, and I love his fist bumps and when he calls us by our last name! He makes our school a better place and knows what to do in every situation. He gives us so much, and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for having him as a principal. He is overall, the best principal I've ever had. I've gotten the Do the Right Thing award for two years in a row so far, and I was so happy to get it. He chooses this wonderful idea and makes me super happy even if I don't get it. I like seeing/hearing that someone is doing the right thing, and he is one of those people. He truly deserves this award, and I hope he is glad.
Mr. Galasso is my principal and the best principal ever. He is caring, kind, empathetic, and altogether awesome. He always cares for all the students and all the teachers too. He also always gives fist bumps. Most kids don’t really like school and want to stay home. But with Mr. Galasso being our principal, you’ll always have a smile on your face. He definitely deserves this award. Thank you Mr. Galasso!
Mr. Galasso is the best principal I've ever had. He is smart, he is funny, and he is always trying to keep us safe. He is always kind to staff members and students. Thank you for being the best principal I have ever had!
Mr. Galasso is a kind, wise, and funny person. He is a great person to look up to. He is the best principal I have had.
Dear Mr. Galasso, You are a great principal and have been very inspiring to me. I still remember my first day at Highland School. I was so nervous and you gave me a fist bump, which made me feel better. You have taught Justin, Liam, and me A LOT of lessons!
You always give me a fist bump which I love and you never put any of us down. You are always an upbeat person ( I love your ties!). I have never seen you sad but I have seen you upset sometimes and seeing you like that makes me very sad. You have told me one time when I was in your office that you had a ton of paperwork to do all the time and you still find a way to make time for an assembly. You deserve to be nominated for the "Life Changer of The Year Award" because you have changed my life and countless others.
You never make me upset or angry or mad, you only make me happy. I remember when some times I'm having a bad day and you give me one of your magical fist bumps. You are the fairest person at Highland School and the fairest person I've ever met.
All of these reasons show (And there are many more!) that you really REALLY deserve the "Life Changer of the Year Award". :) I will miss you when I'm out of Highland School! ;( You're a legend, Galasso!!!!!
Mr. Galasso is the best principal I have ever had. He is kind to everyone. I would know. I have a dent in my hand from how many fist bumps he's given me in 4 years. When someone makes him happy the entire school is happy. For these reasons, I nominate Mr. Galasso for Life Changer of the Year.
I liked to nominate Mr.Galasso for the Life Changer of the Year for so many reasons. We have a special handshake together. He is fair, nice, kind, and many more. He knows everyone in the school personally. He always teaches us his mistakes so we can learn from them. He cares about every single one of us in the school. He never gets angry at us even though he has to watch over 320 kids and some of us get in trouble and have to talk to him and he still does not lose his patience. OUT OF HIS OWN TIME he makes us these Do the Right Thing assemblies because he wants everyone to recognize certain people that are doing the right thing. And If you still think this person is not worthy of this award then I don't know who is worthy of this award.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he helps a lot of people and he is a very nice person. He helps you with problems that you might have. He lets us have spirit week and no homework days too. He also does so much for our school and us. He always fist bumps people in the hallways and is always friendly to everyone. He is also a very understanding person. He also does very fun assemblies like the Do the Right Thing assembly. He is the best principal I have ever had. Mr.Galasso should win Life Changer of the Year.
You keep doing your job and never give up on something that is important to you. Even if you have a terrible day you always keep going! Thank you for everything you do for us.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a wonderful, nice, and caring person to be around. When he walks in the hallways he will fist bump you or give you a high five. He goes over and beyond getting us things like computers, flex seating, smart boards, new water fountains, and so much more. Mr.Galasso also holds assemblies that teach us very important life lessons. He also gives children awards for doing the right thing and encourages us to be better and harder working students. He gives other people awards and never awards himself. In conclusion, Mr. Galasso should definitely be Life Changer of the Year.
Mr.Galasso has been my principal since the third grade. I think that he is one of the best principals. For example, in third grade, everyone was new to Highland and a bit scared but he always did assemblies and still to this day gives everyone fistbumps. Another example in 4th grade I made a slideshow for my teacher to get a Do the Right Thing award, but he got her the Teacher of the Year award. Another example is last year I had moved away so I missed grade 5 in Highland, but this year I am back and he was kind and helping and now I am very happy in the 6th grade. He does the Do the Right Thing Awards that really make people feel good about themselves. Also, he sometimes plays sports with us. Lastly, I think that he should also win the award because he is always helping and nice no matter what you need.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is the best principal ever. He always sets good examples for everyone in Highland School. For example, if you walked passed him in the hallway he would always give you a fist bump, say your last name, or just joke around with you. He always takes his time to teach us new things and that we should be good for the rest of our lives. Sometimes if you're down he will come up to you and make you feel so much better by taking a few minutes out of his day to talk to you. Even if he is on his way to a meeting and is about to be late he will stop and talk to you and see if you are alright. This shows you that Mr. Galasso is an awesome principal and should get the LifeChanger of the Year Award.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso for the Life Changer of the Year award. I feel that he really is a life-changer. He always has a smile on his face and just enlightens the room all of the time. Mr. Galasso always has these assemblies called the Do the Right Thing assemblies. I love that he does those because they encourage all of the kids to be a better person. The assemblies honor kids who have done good things for others and our school. Sometimes Mr.Galasso will walk around the halls and peek into the classrooms to see how everyone is doing. Once he had peeked into our science class and actually stayed for a couple of minutes to see what we were learning. He even took part in the activity that we were doing. Overall, Mr. Galasso is an amazing and life-changing person.
Mr.Galasso was my principal for 2 years. He has been a great role model. When I first came to this school in 5th grade I remember going to the first Do the Right Thing assembly and meeting him for the first time. Every friend I have told me that he is the best principal you should be really excited to meet him. That made me and my parents happy to know that this school is in good hands. Now having him being my principal for 2 years I am so grateful that my parents put me in this amazing school with an outstanding principal.
Dear Mr. Galasso, I would like to nominate you because you have been my principal since 3rd grade and you have been the BEST principal I have ever had. You are so kind and fair. I totally agree with everything you choose to do in our school. I always really like that you give us the opportunity to have Do the Right Thing awards for kids who do good or help someone in need. I think it's so cool that you do that. We also get a super fun field day. I think that it is so kind and nice that you are having a walkathon for Mrs. Smith to raise money. I think that that is a great way to raise money! You are the funniest principal ever-you always make a joke even if you're mad at the kid. You're so awesome! Thank you for being the best principal ever!
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso for Life Changer of The Year. He is always happy to be in Highland. He is the major reason that I like to come to school. He is so nice and kind to everyone. He is a very cool principal. When he sees you in the hallway he gives you a fist bump. He is the reason that Highland School is what it is today. He is the best principal you could ever ask for.
Mr. Galasso has been my principal since 3rd grade and he has never let me or anyone else down. He has been there for me and he is there for anyone in this school no matter if it's staff or students. He treats us like family. I would never in a million years say he is a bad person. He is one of the nicest and kindest guys I know. I will be leaving this school next year and I am going to miss this school, but I am going to miss everything he does for this school and himself. I don't think any principal will be topped by him. He has changed my life in so many ways. He has helped me through issues with friends and bullying. He has made me a better person and that's why he deserves this award. Mr. Galasso is an amazing principal! :)
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he supports us with stuff for school.Mr.Galasso provides us with Chrome Books for school and with his own money he Bought each classroom Smart bords. And I think that was very nice.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because he is happy to be in highland. When Mr. Galasso walks by you will fist pump you and he makes you want to be in highland school. He buys us Chromebooks so we can do reflex for math and ixl for ela. Mr. Galasso also tells us very good advice. In conclusion, I think Mr. Galasso should win
I would like to nominate MR.Galasso because of every time I'm around him I always feel a good vibe.also the assemblies he does them for us to be better. for example, if you walk past him he will always give you a fist bump and he will say your last name or joke around with us.for him to take time out of his day to make sure we're ok or teach us something important we could use in our life is so great. the things that he does for us to learn and be better humans not just in school, but for your lifetime. When you go to him he'll be there for you and he will be tough on you but he does it for you to be better. When you're sad he will always take time to help you. Sometimes when I'm down he always motivates me to be better than I am because he knows it. For him to be the best principal ever. In conclusion, I think MR Galasso should be life changer of the year
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is the best principal I have ever had. Mr. Galasso is a very good principal because he also gives us good advice. At assembles, he relates things to his life and tells us the mistakes he made when he was younger. he also lets us know what to do and what not to do. In conclusion, Mr. Galasso should be nominated for the life changer of the year award because he is the best principal ever and he gives good advice.
I nominate Mr.Galasso because he is supportive and responsible. For example, he does his work and makes sure that teachers are doing a good job teaching. Mr. Galasso is supportive because he takes his time to see his students play sports. I think he should win the life changer of the year.
I nominate Mr. Galasso because he is a very kind principal and he does stuff he does not have to do. For example, he looked in the trash for someone else's retainer. He is there for everyone. Every day, he makes lots of people's lives better. Not just the kids, but the adults, too. He is very funny and reminds people to do what they are meant to do. He provides us with flex seating, and lets us do fun stuff. Lots of schools do not do that. He stops the bad people and gives us no - homework - days, too! He totally deserves to have the life-changer reward! every day, he supports the children and does lots more. Every life in this school should be thankful because they have a great principal. When we need it most, he is there. Hands down the best, kindest, funniest principal of all time! Thank you Mr. Galasso!!
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso for LifeChangerof the year. Mr.Galasso is hands down the best principal. First, he always says "hey DeBlas." Mr.Galasso lets me and my friends do fun things in the student council. In conclusion, that's why he should be nominated for the life changer of the year.
I nominate Mr.Galasso because he is fair, kind, tenacious, and much more. When I needed help, I asked somebody who should I go to he immediately said Mr.Galasso because everybody knows that they can trust him, and his punishments are fair. Last year he even supplied the hole 3rd grade with flexible seating and the rest of the school and it was like $10,000 and he also went digging in the dumpsters for somebody's retainer and he goes to sports games on the weekends for his students. In conclusion, Mr.Galasso is the best principal that I could ever ask for.
I would like to nominate Mr. Galasso because he is an awesome principal. He is an awesome principal because he is always there for you and helps you with anything he can. I have heard that a student lost their retainer and he searched for their retainer a trashcan. He also got the whole school " Flex Seating " which is a lot of money, and it was very nice to do that. This is why I think Mr. Galasso is an awesome principal because of these reasons. He should be " Life Changer of the year. "
P.S. He gave everyone nicknames which are very nice and cool. ( He calls everyone by their last names.)
From,
Keely Nero
I nominate Mr.Galasso because he helps everybody. He also says "Hi" to everybody in the halls when he sees them. He gets every classroom flex seating. He takes his time off to go to student's games. In conclusion, I nominate Mr.Galasso because he says hi to everybody and goes to students games.
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he does fun things for us such as assemblies and field days. Mr.Galasso comes to student council activities too. For example, he helped us build a house for habitat for humanity on a Saturday and took time out of his day to come. He also is funny because and he reminds us to brush our teeth and gives us hi-fives and knuckle punches and comes to student's sports games. In conclusion, I think Mr.Galasso should be the principal Lifechanger of the year because he does so much for us.
I would like to nominate m.r Galasso because he has been there for me when I need it most. He just completes our school. He buys so much for us to use in class. He takes his time to help others. Even when the days are dark you are there for not only the kids but the teachers too. So I just want to say thank you. In conclusion, I would like to nominate M.r Galasso because he is always there for us. So thank you.
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso as life changer of the year because he is funny,kind, helpful,and nice. For example he makes assemblies fun. He makes assemblies fun by putting in jokes. He also hi-fives and fist-bumps us when he see's us. One time when I was looking for my big brother after school he came to help me and I found him! This is why I want to nominate Mr.Galasso as life changer of the year.
I nominate Mr.Galasso for the Life Changer of the Year Award because he makes kids laugh and smile when there upset. Mr.Galasso has been my principal for a year and a half and he has proven to me he is the best person to kids. Mr.Galasso makes fun nicknames for students and I think he should get the Life Changer of the Year award. Thank You Mr.Galasso!!!
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso for Lifechanger of the Year because he does a lot for our school and he always greets people. He is the best principal I have ever had! He is a good principal because he always fistbumps people. In conclusion, Mr.Galasso greets people, does a lot for people, he is kind, and that is why I think that he should get Lifechanger of the Year.
I would like to nominate Mr.Galasso because he does a lot for our school. Like, flex seating, field day and do the right thing and many more. He always greats people including me. This shows that Mr.Galasso is an amazing principal because he does a lot for our school. In conclusion, Mr.Galasso is an amazing principal because he greats me in the morning, and goes out of his way for us.
Mr. Galasso is extremely deserving of the Life Changer of the Year award. He puts in countless hours both before and after school to make Highland School an amazing place to be for both his students and his faculty. Mr. Galasso takes time to thank us for all of our hard work and he appreciates us immensely. This is our opportunity to be able to appreciate him for all the effort he puts into his job every single day. From the moment I started working at Highland School, Mr. Galasso made me feel extremely welcomed. Mr. Galasso has made working here feel like family. To be a part of this wonderful community is truly an honor and privilege. I absolutely love coming to work every single day and I have Mr. Galasso to thank for that.
Mr.Galasso has been my principal since I was in 3rd grade, all this time he has never been unfair to any student that I know of. He always is kind and fair, he shows the school what the right thing to do is. He always has fair punishments for the actions that kids might do. He is definitely by far my favorite principal I've had out of my short school career.
I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for the Life Changer of the Year award than Mr. Galasso. I have had the opportunity to work at Highland School as a child study team member for the past several years. The impact Mr. Galasso has on every person he interacts with is truly inspirational. He connects with each student, parent, and staff member in a way that makes them feel valued and respected. As a leader, Mr. Galasso's compassion, and enthusiasm brings out the best in others. I am fortunate to work for and learn from such an exemplary role-model and administrator.
A wonderful man! Everyone should inspire to be like him. Peter seems to find time for everyone. He is cool and calm under pressure. At the moment he is remolding his house. A full time principal. A father of 4. Also working part-time selling Christmas trees. An amazing human being. Thank you for being you Pete.
I met Mr. Galasso when I came to Highland School as an instructional aide in 2016. During my first day, he was checking up on me. Making sure that I felt welcome and everything was okay. At first, I was very skeptical because what principal finds the time and checks up on their aides in such a way? Prior to meeting Mr. Galasso, I had worked in several schools, but never experienced a leader as special him. He is one of a kind. In a short time, I saw that Mr. Galasso VALUED each and every member of his team. He saw their value and realized that each person, no matter what their position was, is integral to the success of the school. He sees everyone as family. He gives everything he has and supports everyone. I have seen him helping custodians set up chairs, tutoring kids in his office while answering 1000 emails and phone calls, and having his door always open to anyone that has a concern. If he could not meet with you at that moment, he would 100% follow up with you and meet you as soon as possible. The world needs more people like Mr. Galasso. People that are selfless and want to make the world a better place. On a personal level, I asked Mr. Galasso a religious question and he invited me to his Church. He put no pressure on me to go, but opened the door and I went in. I love going to his Church and it has helped me with many of life's challenges. I play basketball with Mr. Galasso on occasion (he is very good and competitive) and he even works part time on weekends at a local Christmas tree business with me because he likes working with his hands and being outside. He gave me his personal cell phone number and I try not to bother him, but when I call, he answers. Kindness is contagious. Due to his leadership,Highland School is a wonderful place to work. All of his staff loves working for him. They know he has their back and will do anything in his power to help and support them. I would love Mr. Galasso to win this award. However, it more important for him to realize how much everyone appreciates and loves what he does. Keep up the great work Mr. Galasso.
I have been an Instructional Aide in the Midland Park School District for several years and have witnessed Mr. Galasso's many great qualities. A few that always stand out to me are that he is genuine, kind and fair. His school assemblies are amazing because he shares a personal story as he offers a life lesson to the students. Another thing that amazes me is that Mr. Galasso knows each student by name and he is often seen fist bumping them as he walks into classrooms and through the halls....... Good luck Mr. Galasso! You are so deserving of this Life Changer of the Year award.
Our son is new to Highland school this year, but already Mr. Galasso has had such a positive impact on our son. It is clear how dedicated he is to the children and the school. One example that meant a lot to our family in particular -- Our son felt strongly about an rule affecting him at school due to his food allergies, and he wrote a letter to Mr. Galasso expressing his feelings. Mr. Galasso called my son to his office, and together they discussed the issue, and Mr. Galasso made a change. He encourages children to speak up and advocate for themselves and learn that they have a voice, their words have power, and that they can affect change. Thank you, Mr. Galasso, for everything you do for all the children at Highland!
I am the head custodian from Highland School. I really appreciate what Mr. Galasso has done for me over the years. He has helped me a lot of times during the year. For example he helps me set up tables and chairs and take them down afterwards for Back to School Night and all assemblies. He gives me help when I receive deliveries to the school like furniture or books. When something happens inside the school and outside he helps me like shoveling the snow off the sidewalks and front entrance. Inside when somebody spills something and I am busy doing something else he always cleans it up if I can’t get to it. Sometimes he gives me help when people come to the building to do a regular check or inspection of the building. When I need help with documents and records he helps me fill out the forms. He helps me empty the garbage cans when other custodians call out sick. When I am sick in the morning or at a doctor’s appointment, he opens all the teachers’ classroom doors in the school for me. When I had surgery and was recovering, he came to my house and brought me a get well cards from the students in the school. When I was in the hospital and at home recovering he would call me twice a week to check on me. I work in other schools and I have never had a principal help me the way he does, he makes me feel appreciated when he helps me like we are a team and that is why I think he should get the Lifechanger Award.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”-John Quincy Adams
Mr. Galasso not only inspires students but teachers as well. He sets an example that anything is possible. He allows us to dream more, learn more, do more and become more. He is a true leader. Mr. Galasso knows all the students and parents in his school. He can often be seen fist-pumping his students and is a role model for them. Our principal takes the time to talk with his students and know their background in order to offer them the resources available. Our school has become a better place since Mr. Galasso arrived!
Mr. Galasso is one of the most inspirational people that I have met. He helped me through situations and through hard times. He never let me have my head down. He always gave me a reason to stay positive in school. Mr. Galasso was always there as a trusted adult to go to and for help. Inspirational is all that he is.
Mr. Peter Galasso a true inspiration to all he has contact with each day. From the first time you meet him you feel like you have a true friend for life. His passion, enthusiasm and personality are second to no one. I have had the pleasure to work with Mr. Galasso chiefly at the Midland Park High School in the realm of athletics. He is an excellent facilitator for his coaches, teachers and students. In today’s language “He gets it”. If you need something Mr. Galasso will get the job accomplished. If extra work is needed on a project he will roll up his sleeves and get after the issue. If ANY student needs anything he will work on a solution or a plan to make it happen for this student.
Mr. Galasso is definitely a life changer in the Midland Park community. I was so proud to hear of his nomination to The National Life Changer of the Year award. He certainly has been and continues to be a fantastic game changer for all he comes in contact with each day. Besides his exceptional communication delivery, his dry witty humor and his fantastic people skills he possesses a determined, confident, drive to be the best he can be. This drive is contagious and he is able to bring many of whom he meets along for the ride! Thanks Mr. Galasso.
I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Galasso for a short time before he transitioned to Highland School and I transitioned to another district. In that time, I was awed by his passion and dedication to both students and staff. He is, first and foremost, a kind man, who genuinely offers support and encouragement when needed. He is also a smart man, who understands the various ways to connect with people in order to get them to work to their highest potential. Congratulations on this nomination, Pete!
I started at Highland School a couple of months after Mr. Galasso, I had the pleasure of working in Mr. Galasso's building for 4 years, Till transferred to Godwin. His administrative skills are off the charts! He values everyone at Highland School! He is a true team player with invaluable skills! Peter Galasso makes a difference! I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this Award!
As a local business owner I am encouraged by the inclusiveness of Mr. Galasso's approach to exposing students to new ideas, concepts and skills, especially relating to technology. He has fostered an enthusiasm for learning that reaches beyond the school grounds. He has brought in business professionals to convey real world experiences to his students. He is innovative in his approach to preparing his students for their next steps.
Mr. Galasso, you’re one of the best principals I’ve ever had. For example, you gave us our chromebooks for each student. You have given us a lot, so that’s why I nominate you for Lifesaver of the year. Our school would never been like this if it weren’t for you. You have impacted our school in a good way.
In plain and simple language: The kids love and respect him. It's not often you hear that about a school administrator. Thank you Mr. Galasso for being a role model for our students, faculty and staff.
As a member of the Child Study Team, I've had the pleasure of working in Mr. Galasso’s building since I first started in this district. I am so grateful to work with such a wonderful administrator, one who is so involved with our students. I continue to be inspired by Mr. Galasso’s caring, patient, and understanding nature. Mr. Galasso goes above and beyond his role as principal to ensure each student benefits from his or her school experience. He is always ready to help staff find solutions to the various challenges we encounter, often thinking outside of the box in order to do so. He is an exceptional role model; his team-first, collaborative attitude creates a positive, supportive environment for all members of the Highland school community. For these reasons and more, I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award. You have touched so many lives Mr. Galasso, thank you for everything that you do-
Mr. Galasso is a remarkable leader. He is modest about his own efforts and gives credit where it is due and lets his teachers shine. Parents like me feel they can rely on him to look out for their children as he emphasizes his belief that his job is to create good citizens. His sense of humor draws parents and kids to his side. Self-deprecating though he is, he believes in always giving his best, and so he sets an example by being the first to arrive and the last to leave. He is determined that his school will be the very best it can be and he is always coming up with new curriculum ideas, improving the facilities and challenging the kids and the staff to push just a little bit further. He is a team player in the district as well, but his impact reaches well beyond his own school to the broader community of Midland Park. We are lucky to have him.
Thank you, Mr. Galasso, for encouraging our children to do their best. You are an awesome role model for our children. We hope you receive the "Lifechanger of the Year" award!
There are so many great qualities about Mr. Galasso: As the principal of Highland Elementary School, Mr. Galasso is a strong and most effective leader who is humble, motivating, kind, dedicated, caring, positive and supportive. As a child study team member, I am very fortunate to have him as a principal who works in a collaborative manner and cares very deeply about each student. He always sees the positive in his students and staff and always wants what is best for them. The atmosphere he has created at Highland school makes everyone feel like they are a part of a special family! Mr. Galasso inspires his students and staff to be good people by his example of being such a good person! The Lifechanger of the Year award is a wonderful way that Mr. Galasso can be recognized for making a positive difference in so many lives!
As a member of the Child Study Team, I've had the pleasure of working in Mr. Galasso’s building since I first started in this district. I am so grateful to work with such a wonderful administrator, one who is so involved with our students. I continue to be inspired by Mr. Galasso’s caring, patient, and understanding nature. Mr. Galasso goes above and beyond his role as principal to ensure each student benefits from his or her school experience. He is always ready to help staff find solutions to the various challenges we encounter, often thinking outside of the box in order to do so. He is an exceptional role model; his team-first, collaborative attitude creates a positive, supportive environment for all members of the Highland school community. For these reasons and more, I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award. You have touched so many lives Mr. Galasso, thank you for everything that you do-
For the last two years, our son has participated in a basketball game vs. Mr. Galasso & it has been an outstanding experience for our family! Mr. Galasso generously donates his time & the kids have had a blast interacting with their principal on such a fun level. We are so fortunate to have an amazing administrator who goes the extra mile for our kids!
We all love Mr Galasso,he is the best principal ever..He takes care for every child.Every day after classes he stands outside the school and greet all of us,not just students but parents as well.We are lucky to have him here,in Midland Park
Just recently I had a question but it was “after school” hours and I called the main line praying someone would pick up and what do you know?! Mr Galasso was on the other end of the line,he was unaware of the issue but made the effort to find out and also gave me a call back with the information I needed. I was very impressed to say the least. Thank You Mr Galasso! No one is more deserving of this award!
As the Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) for Midland Park Public Schools, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Mr. Peter Galasso for the past seven years. Mr. Galasso is a master educator with boundless enthusiasm and energy. What I appreciate most is his understanding of student issues and his ability to effectively communicate these issues to parents. Mr. Galasso is always open to new ideas and new initiatives to improve the social, emotional and academic lives of the students in his school. He honestly goes above and beyond at every opportunity. Mr. Galasso sets the bar high for himself in an enthusiastic way, and this enthusiasm is contagious! Students, staff and parents appreciate Mr. Galasso's "can do" attitude and "hands on" commitment to educational excellence! Peter Galasso is most worthy of consideration to be Lifechanger of the Year!
Education research notes the critical role of the school principal, indicating that school variables on their own have small effects on learning. The real payoff comes when individual variables combine to reach critical mass, and creating the conditions under which that can occur is the job of the principal (Wallace Foundation.) Mr. Galasso is a master at crafting critical mass at Highland School and the results are, in a word, amazing! He continually demonstrates top-drawer school leadership skills: directing instructional efforts, managing the dearth of administrative tasks each day brings, and of utmost importance, keeping the best interests of students at the forefront of his efforts. Bolman & Deal speak to the human frame inherent in the leadership dynamic, emphasizing the importance of the intangibles in our work. When visiting Highland, I am always heartened by the interactions between Mr. Galasso and his students. When Mr. Galasso stops in his tracks to tell a child, "Hey, my man, great job!" you can feel that he means it. Mr. Galasso's passion for his students is palpable, and never more strong than when advocating for their well-being. His "Do the Right Thing" assemblies are joyous events and have made a significant impact on the climate at Highland School. As a colleague, Mr. Galasso possesses every quality one would wish for. He is a competent and concerned collaborator, one who inspires confidence in others. Over the years, his efforts have reaped desired rewards and his teachers are marching in step with him toward the overarching goal of sustained school improvement. It is without question that Mr. Galasso exemplifies the best in school leadership and Midland Park is fortunate to have him as one of its principals. Pete, best of luck as you seek to be named a Life Changer...an accolade of which you are truly deserving!
The first word that comes to mind about Mr. Galasso is Grateful. My son started in Highland the same year when Mr. Glasson did. When issues came up at school, they were always dealt with fairly and what was best for our son. I truly believe that he helped make our son a better person. At the sixth-grade graduation ceremony you could tell that Mr. Galasso really cared for the class that was leaving. Mr. Galasso is our daughter’s principle now, and he still has the same level of caring and doing what is best for the kids. We wish you all the best and continued success at Highland School.
Mr. Glasso you are a true "Life Changer"! With or with out an offical title.
Our children are so fortunate to have an educator such as yourself as their principal! Your dedication, not only to the students but the staff is admirable!
You know your students and make every effort to support their needs. When facing challenges you are available and ready to help! You are always looking and striving for what will be the next opportunity to forward our childrens education.
Thank you for all your time and effort you dedicate to our school!
This award would be so well deserved! Mr. Galasso has made such a difference in our school, and in my children. From the day he started at Highland he connected with our son. He always looked up to Mr. Galasso. Mr. Galasso went out of his way to encourage our son and when he was struggling, he was the one to help us through getting him some extra help. He realized our son's potential, and always pushed him to do better. Our younger daughter adores Mr. Galasso. Just a simple nick name that he has for her makes her feel special when she passes by in the hallway. I especially appreciate that he is also a father and understands the kids and he often shares things he has learned or things he does with his own kids to help better our school and us as parents. Thank you so much Mr. Galasso for caring so much about our children!
I was a teacher with the Hearing Impaired Program at Godwin School for a long time. When I found out I was being moved to Highland School, I was nervous. What would it be like? Would I be able to fit in to this new school culture? Would I be able to make it work with a new principal?
All my fears were put to rest within days. Working for Mr. Galasso is, quite simply, the best. He is respectful, caring, considerate, and kind. He always makes the time for his students and teachers, even when he doesn't have it. He's taken on problems that were not his and dealt with them in the calmest manner I've ever seen. The culture he has created here is one of respect and hard work. But there's also and openness in which we all feel free to talk to each other, adults and students alike. I cannot think of anyone more deserving.
Congratulations Mr. Galasso you deserve this nomination! Thank you for the fresh ideas you've implemented in Midland Park. You're a super role model for our students and families. Your contributions have made an obvious difference in our children's educational experiences. We need more of you.
In my short time of knowing Mr. Galasso, it is evident that his staff loves him. He listens to them, supports them, and he does always try to do the right thing. He is someone who places a high value on family. This was evident in the fact that I wanted to work a part-time position rather than a full-time position. Mr. Galasso's words to me were, "I appreciate all that you mothers do for your children." He is someone who is, truly, a family man and places his values on the things that matter most in this world--our children. For that reason, I would like to nominate him as the Life Changer of the Year award. He changed my life just by saying, "Yes," to a job that I am now ever so grateful for within a district that is such a great place to work. It starts from the top down and Mr. Galasso is an exemplary administrator.
I had the privilege of coaching with Coach Galasso many years ago. Some of my favorite times coaching were being with him on the baseball field. I learned so many valuable things from Pete, from dealing with different personality types and helping kids deal with adversity, to strategy and game planning. Pete is as genuine as they come, and a straight shooter. When he says he is going to do something, he means it, and he always keeps his word. He is simply one of the best men I know. Love you coach.
Dev
"Do the right thing" is not only a Highland School saying, rather its Mr. Galasso's mission in life.
Our family has experienced on many occasions his kindness, respectfulness, and good nature towards everyone he interacts with. It would truly be the LifeChanger's loss if Mr. Galasso is not selected this year.
Thank you Mr. Galasso for showing our children how to live life, the right way!
Mr G makes eye contact with kids as well as with parents - looks you in the eye when he speaks to you- he is a good listener and tries to do whatever he can to help each student - whatever their situation may be - he has a BIG HEART and Midland Park’s kids and families are very lucky he’s got their backs!!!
?????? miss him at MPHS!
I remember the first time I met Mr, Galasso. He was the athletic director at MPHS. I told him I was interested in working games. By the end of the day he had my schedule for the next three months with an explanation as to why he was starting with Volleyball scoreboard. He already laid out his plan for me. He would teach me other sports so when those openings came up the following year I would be ready.
Years later he became my principal. That same attention to detail was evident. By the end of the first day, I knew my schedule, what his expectations were of me, and that his door was always open.
One of my favorite stories is how he challenged one of my students to play him one on one in basketball. If the student won, no homework for the year. Needless to say the student was still doing his homework right up until the last day of school. Mr. Galasso taught him many lessons that day. He always has the ability to connect on each student’s level.
Thank you Mr. Galasso for being a life changer to your students and your staff and always showing as how to “Do the Right Thing”
I am incredibly grateful to work for and with Mr. Galasso. As an administrator, he hasn't forgotten what it was like to be in the classroom. He routinely takes time to find little ways to thank us for our hard work, to make us feel appreciated and heard, to ask us for our input on how to improve our school, and to give us time to make our teaching even stronger. His genuine care for us coupled with his own remarkable work ethic make us work that much harder to be the best we can be.
He has a gift for connecting with his teachers, parents, and students. In the past for various events, like Principal's Day, I've asked students to share their thoughts about him. It's always such an easy task for them because they truly love him. They are clear about his rules and respect him because of them. They know he cares and expects great things from them. And, I truly believe every kid genuinely comes to feel that way about him, just as we do.
I can always count on him to offer perspective and insight. He sets the bar high for his teachers too and motivates us to reach for it, and more than once it's pushed me toward trying a new piece of technology or organizing a different kind of lesson which ultimately makes me a stronger teacher. I can honestly say he has changed the culture of our school in such a positive way. His leadership inspires me to be a better educator and a better person and even a better parent. Without question, he is a life changer. He is a humble human whom Midland Park is incredibly lucky to have on staff, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of his team.
Mr. Galasso is truly in a league of his own and to say he is worthy of the Life Changer of the Year would be an understatement. The countless hours he has devoted to improving Highland School do not go unnoticed. I consider him an important role model and someone who will do anything for his staff and students. He is by far the fiercest competitor I know and I'm very glad he's our principal!
Mr. Galasso is someone I can count on to be in the building prior to 7 am and after 6 pm. His door is always open. I have so many “one time” stories where I’ve felt appreciated as a teacher or I’ve seen him giving his time to others.
Whenever I invite Mr. Galasso into my classroom to honor the work my class is doing he always makes time in his day to come to celebrate the students. He puts this value and facetime with students ahead of everything else he needs to complete.
He is someone who will do anything because he is hands down a good person. The field of education and teaching can face a great deal of adversity and frustration as you deal with children and families of all kinds, Mr. Galasso approaches every situation with the best interest of the child in mind.
Mr. Galasso reissued norms and establish a welcoming culture in our school. One way he did this was by asking everyone to say hello as you pass in the hallway- something that seems so trivial has had a huge impact on the atmosphere in the school. He has worked with the police and community members to ensure our school is safe.
I have the freedom to teach how I want (within the scope of state standards, of course) and I look forward to coming to work each day. While Mr. Galasso gives all his credit to the work of the teachers, we couldn’t do it without him as our leader. He inspires us, he shares his own hardships and how he handles these challenges, he has high expectations, yet is understanding when it comes to the realities of life.
I recently completed a master’s in Educational Leadership and selected Mr. Galasso as my mentor. Even though I feared it may be too much for him to take on and I was fully willing to accept him saying no, he couldn’t add another thing to his plate, he HANDS DOWN said yes. He was excited to open up and share everything that he’s learned as a leader. Mr. Galasso is reflective and thoughtful in his actions. Instead of being holed up in his office, he paces the hallways to view student work in hallways and view teachers and students at work in their classrooms.
Mr. Galasso deserves this award as has impacted not just children but adults in such a positive way!
Mr. Galasso is great, he is invested in the students education and partners with parents and teachers to do what is best for the kids individually and collectively. In the short time we have been here my daughter has found a home at highland, one where she learns has fun feels safe and respected. No doubt due to the tone Mr. Galasso sets at the school. She is sad this is her last year there but I look forward to working with Mr. Galasso for another 4 years as my son gets to highland. Mr Galasso is very deserving of this great honor.
Funny today is Veterans Day. When a soldier is in the trenches, and on the front lines, if they know that behind them stands a strong lieutenant that has their back, it gives them strength and courage to pull thru and go that extra mile. Thank you for your wisdom and your strong leadership Mr G! No one more deserving of this award!
Mr. Galasso consistently provides me with motivation, inspiration and a drive to be the best teacher I can be. He is extremely supportive of the evolving media center and library program at Highland School. He gives me the autonomy to expand and explore every aspect of my professional services. From revising and updating my curriculum, to revitalizing the programming and services I provide and reworking and continually re-imagining the psychical library layout and space. He expresses appreciation for the many ways in which I serve the students, parents and teachers in our school community. He treats me with respect and as an equal professional. These last few years under his guidance I feel I am at the top of my game as a teacher and librarian and yet I am continually preparing to aim higher and keep climbing. Thank you for being you Mr. Galasso.
Additionally, I would like to thank you for being someone who I look up to as a parent. I listen when you speak to me (and our students and my colleagues) when you share about your life experiences and impart your wisdom and whether you know it or not I am bringing your words and ways home to my son James and you are someone whom he looks up to as well.
In my fourteen year career as a special education teacher I have worked for 5 different principals and 6 different special education directors. Eleven direct administrators is a lot for fourteen years. And with all of these administrators comes a change in routine, requirements, and personalities. By far, Mr. Galasso is the most phenomenal one to work with. He has a way of explaining himself so that when you do disagree, you at least see the benefits of his opinion. He has a way of thinking about conversations long after they are thought to be over. He also is not afraid to admit when he is wrong. We did have a disagreement on the role of special education and collaboration within the school and I’ll admit, tossing him a book I had rewritten so that a student with a significantly low reading level could participate in the Battle of the Books with his peers was probably not the best way to leave his office. However, when he called me at nine o’clock pm that Friday night to say that he read through the book I threw at him and realized that yes, there is a lot more to my role in the classroom than he originally thought, I realized that I was so incredibly lucky to work for someone who was willing to go above and beyond their understanding of something in order to see someone else’s perspective. That phone call solidified my want to stay in this amazing district. While my husband frequently reminds me how much more I could be making in a larger district in our county, I remind him that I would have to leave this amazing place that Mr. Galasso has created. The sense of community and family among our staff is like no other. This makes coming to work every morning that much more of a happier experience. The only way to fully understand what he has done to our small school is to walk through our halls and hear the laughter, watch the children rise to his high expectations, and see the collaboration that takes place within these walls. Lifechanger is only one adjective that can be used to describe this amazing professional, but it may perhaps be the most important one we use to describe Mr. Galasso.
Thank you Mr. Galasso for your dedication to the students, staff and families of the school. You are an outstanding principal and role model for our students and you truly deserve this nomination. Your contributions to the Highland School have really made a difference in our children's educational experiences. Congratulations!
Mr. Galasso is truly a life changer. He cares deeply about each student that walks through the doors of Highland School. He has created such a positive school culture that you can see and feel it as soon as you enter the building. It's evident in the students and staff, and in every classroom you visit. Mr. Galasso makes the children at Highland feel safe, valued , cared for and respected. Two of our children have been directly impacted by Mr. Galasso and we can all agree that they are better because of the influence he has had in their lives. We have one more child that can't wait to get to Highland because of all the great things he hears his siblings saying about Mr. Galasso. Mr. Galasso is one of a kind and we can't think of a better candidate for the Life Changer of the Year award!
?Having worked in several school districts prior to Midland Park, I can honestly say that no other administrator I have worked with before compares to Mr. Galasso. His dedication to his students and staff is unparalleled. He has high expectations of not only his staff but himself and he puts a tremendous amount of effort and time into making Highland School the best school it can possibly be. He focuses not only on academic results but on each student's ability to function as successful members of society creating a productive and truly remarkable school culture. Therefore, I feel Mr. Galasso deserves this award, he is a good man, with a good heart, making a difference in the lives of children and fellow educators. ?
Mr. Galasso is an amazing Principal, man and role model. I’ve seen him greet just about every student by name, he knows the teams they root for, he knows our community and our families. When he says he will “take care of it...” he does. When he says “everything will be ok...” it is. When he says “I’ll be there...” he is. He cares about the children and their families! He helps each child find their potential not by telling but by guiding and leading by example. He helped our once timid and very shy little girl become more confident and comfortable in her own skin. And helped us as parents guide her too! He never forgets parents need some guidance at times and never turns us away. He’s an innovative educator who supports out of the box thinking and respects his teachers for preparing our children for the real world. He has been a blessing in our lives. Thank you Mr. Galasso for all you do!
Mr. Galasso is a innovative, kind hearted principal who has impacted Highland School and the community for the last few years. I am so lucky to have had the pleasure of meeting him and being a student who first handedly saw his affect on the students and the people around him. He constantly brings a positive energy into the school each morning and is a great example of what a teacher and trusted adult is. I was lucky enough to have him as a teacher and I can speak on behalf of all his students that he is an inspirational figure and someone we admire!
There is no one more deserving of this award than Mr. Galasso. In the 4 years my son was attending Highland School Mr. Galasso always went above and beyond for his students and their parents. He was always available to talk and never made you feel as though he didn’t have the time for you. He is caring, compassionate, down to earth, strict yet kind, understanding as well as a strong and innovative leader. Every change Mr. Galasso put in place made Highland School a better place. He is so much more than the average principal. Midland park is truly lucky to have him. I selfishly wish he could follow the kids to the middle school and high school because he is just that good. He shows that he understands what it means to be a kid. Thank you for all you do each and every day.
I’m so happy to hear that Mr Galasso has been nominated for this award! He is truly deserving and an exceptional principal. He cares deeply for the kids in the school and that is evident by the respect they have for him. He meets them at their level. Some of my sons favorite memories are playing basketball with Mr Galasso at recess. I have 3 kids that were lucky enough to have had him as their principal and every one of them agrees that he is the kindest, funniest, fairest principal they could have had. He has truly impacted all of our lives and we appreciate him immensely.
Mr. Galasso became the principal at Highland School when my son was in 3rd grade. It was a tough year for him, and he was thoughtful, concerned and sincere in helping him be the best he could be. Truly, his positive outlook energized the entire school. There was a buzz that things were changing for the better. His motto, Do The Right Thing, always stuck with us. We are so grateful for him!
Mr. Galasso builds relationships with his students first, and the academic achievements of the students come naturally after that. The Bolten family appreciates what you have done, and will continue to do for our children.
Mr. Galasso cares about the students, teachers and parents. He is a great leader and a kind and understanding person. I will never forget the time he helped me dig through the dumpster garbage to help me find my daughter's retainer. He is dedicated therefore respected.
I love Mr. Galasso because he always makes me laugh and brightens my day. He is always there for me when I was sad. I think he should win because he is the best!??
Thank you Mr. Galasso for everything you do for our children! You have made such a positive impact on them and we can’t thank you enough. Congratulations!
We are so thankful for Mr. Galasso. He goes above and beyond his role as a principal and genuinely cares about each student. He’s an inspirational person, educator and leader. He is a role model to the students in Midland Park as he leads by example.
Mr.. Galasso is a life changer!
Over the last few years he has brought countless changes to our school community like the increased variety of 6th grade electives (including Woodworking and Personal Finance) and the "Do the Right Thing" assemblies where students are recognized for being good people
He is always looking for ways to improve all our school has to offer -- he listens to his students desires, his staff's ideas, and networks with colleagues in other districts. Leading by example, he shows us all that we should never settle and seek to grow as individuals.
He is kind and compassionate. He truly cares about each of his students and demonstrates this on day one. When new students enter Highland School, he makes it a point to learn each student by name. I have always found this impressive as it demonstrates the respect he has for them, and sets the tone for the students, that they are important individuals.
We are thankful that Mr. Galasso is our school principal. The lives our children are better because of him.
Mr.Galasso actually changed my life. Mr.Galasso treats everyone with respect, cares about our opinions, and he is funny. Mr.Galasso is altogether the most fair person I've ever met. Mr.Galasso, if you're reading this please move back to the high school.
This is going to be short and sweet but.... Here is why Pete Galasso is so deserving of this award:
His "Do the Right Thing" assemblies for the students with messages that speak to the teachers as well.
His amazing rapport with the students. He shows that a principal can be a supporter and a "friend", while also being a strict disciplinarian who expects only the best from his Highland School students.
His always moving and motivating messages to the teachers on the first day of school to start the year off with a positive "vibe".
His sense of humor.
His unwavering support and appreciation of his staff.
Pete exemplifies what it means to be a true leader and all around honest, hard-working, caring and great person!
I have the honor of teaching at Highland School . I have been teaching for 20 years, and have seen so much positive change in the last 5 years under Mr. Galasso’s leadership. His trust, respect, and wisdom guides us to be our best, and go above and beyond for our kids. I feel
Blessed that not only has Mr. Galasso pushed me to be my best as an educator, but he has made our school one we are all proud of. My 3 children all attend or will attend Highland School and I know that they will be prepared for the next phase of schooling. His friendly fist pumps, along with his candor, have made our school top notch. Mr. Galasso deserves this award, and I am happy to give him my whole hearted recommendation.
Being a parent in a rapidly changing world leaves you very unsure of your child’s future. The world seems to be changing faster than ever, and more often than not I find myself wishing for simpler things for my children, like health, happiness, and success in their lives. Unfortunately, as a parent you may have the least control over any of these three things. My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April of her third grade year. She spent a week in the hospital recovering from a severe case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Before we could even think of returning Riley to school, and how challenging and scary it would be, Mr. Galasso called us in for a private meeting. Riley was greeted with countless hand-made cards and gifts from all of her classmates and teachers alike. Mr. Galasso gave my wife and I a hug and told us he would make sure Riley will always be safe in his school. He looked me in the eye as a parent, an educator and a friend and made sure I understood his sincerity and commitment to keeping my daughter safe. I will never forget that meeting. That was two years ago, and I now realize that meeting was only the beginning of our relationship with Mr. Galasso. Happiness and success are a close second and third on my parental wishlist, the older I get I realize they are not in any way mutually exclusive. I’m not sure what career or field any of my children will wind up in. However I am sure that they will have seen a fine example of success in their lives. Every student who graduates from Highland School is without a doubt impacted by Mr. Galasso. He is not only an example of what an educator and principle should be, but what a person should be. His sincerity, kindness, and work ethic are contagious, infectious, and undeniable. I truly feel he is an example of success for my children to follow. His wholehearted approach to his career has sparked a change in our school district that cannot be ignored. When he speaks at assemblies he encourages kindness, accountability and tenacity. When you see him during school hours, you are witness to his kindness. When you see him fighting for our children in budget and board meetings, you are witness to his tenacity. And finally when you see how hard his teachers will work for him, and how far the parents of his school district will go for him, you are witness to accountability. We hold him accountable for the positive impact he has made in our children’s lives, and we as a community are grateful to have such an example of success for our children.
Mr. Galasso is a top notch educator who is always thinking outside the box and looking for new and innovative programs to add to Highland School. As a result, his research, willingness and desire to learn have brought excitement to our students daily lives. Mr Galasso’s “DO THE RIGHT THING” program inspires students to be their best. Seeing how motivated my own children were about the program inspired me to bring this awesome idea and celebration of students to my own school. Pete’s fun loving and down to earth personality make him so approachable and real... a genuine educator who truly cares about kids. Midland Park Is so lucky to have this stellar and huge hearted administrator on staff.
This is our first year at Highland school and I definitely was nervous of the change. That is, until I went to Mr. G’s Third Grade orientation one June morning last year and walked away feeling excited for my daughter! Still a little nervous, but definitely excited for all the opportunities she was about to embark upon at this new school, because of this principle. His passion for what he does is evident in the way he speaks. He cares about the students and spends time with them. When I heard about the bagel breakfast, I thought it was the whole third grade and him but no! It was small groups of 10 or less kids with him so he could really get to know them. That, to me, is a life changer.
My 2 older daughters were blessed to have Mr. Galasso at the high school several years ago. He was a breath of fresh air. Really connecting with the kids. He always had a smile and a warm, loving and nurturing way with my girls. Pete was the guy who got the kids to adhere to policies and procedures, not because they were afraid of the consequences if they didn’t, but because they respected and admired him. My youngest daughter had him as principal at Highland. It was once again a truly wonderful experience, unfortunately just too short of a time. Mr. Galasso leaves a lasting impression where ever he goes and on whoever he meets!
Mr. Galasso is a consummate professional in every facet. He genuinely cares about his students, staff and the community. Working with him as both a parent and professionally, it’s readily apparent he loves what he does and always there for any questions/concerns. Midland Park is lucky to have such a caring and dedicated principal who is present for every activity. Thank you Mr. Galasso. Keep up the great work!
Mr. Galasso is wonderfu! We feel very blessed our children have had him as their principal for Gr 3-6. He works so hard and is respected by families and staff at the Highland School and he truly cares about what he does as an Educator. He is very deserving of a professional award.
Mr. Galasso is a very creative and fun principal. My kids absolutely love the energy he brings to the school and as parents we feel so lucky to have someone so caring and amazing for our school. He is truly one of a kind.
As a 30 year volunteer, I have worked under 4 principals. Peter is, by far, the nicest, best and most efficient one of all. It has been a true pleasure working for him.
Mr. Galasso has been an incredible addition to Midland Park, specifically Highland School. I have worked in the district for 25 years and have never seen anyone have such a positive effect on the teachers and most importantly the students. His dedication, determination, and demeanor is unsurpassed. If you just look at the time he dedicates to his job that would be enough for him to win this honor, many early mornings, late nights, days when school is closed, and even weekends. Every decision he makes is to make it a better, easier, more efficient, and fun place for all of us. He believes in and supports his staff. He inspires us to become a better version of ourselves. He knows every students name and something about them. I’ve seen him a number of times stop in the hallway and ask a student something specific about themselves. The students love and respect him as do the staff. Personally I’ve learned a lot from him. I value all of our little chats, because I can always take away something that helps me to continue to grow. His ability to hold himself, staff, and students accountable, but also gives lots of encouragement and praise when deserved or earned by others without needing it himself makes Highland School’s such a success. I can’t think of a candidate more deserving.
Mr.Galasso is the epitome of the word Life Changer ! The changes he has sought to bring about amongst his students run deep. Yes he has made changes to how things are done at school , made it more secure from harm , made the corridors and classrooms welcoming , made new technologies a part of everyday school and much more but above all he has brought about a change in how he wants each of his students to perceive themselves, changed the way they look at obstacles , changed their expectations for themselves and has made them ready to take the next big step to middle school and their life ahead . As a parent I can clearly see that what he wants for his own children , he wants for his students— what he expects from his own children , he expects from his students too ! He has raised the bar for everything his students and our children can do and not surprisingly his students are striving to meet those goals . To be kind , tenacious, work hard , to do the right thing always are turning into a way of life for all at Highland School and continue to be a part of each child including one of my own who is now in middle school . Congratulations to Mr.Galasso for this very well deserved nomination !!
Pete is truly a life changer. When he came to Midland Park, initially at the High School, my son was excited he was there because he was “real”. He came to baseball games to cheer the boys on which made an impact. When he decided to take the principal job at Highland, my daughter was the lucky one and often said he made her feel safe and cared about. I have worked with Pete on several occasions from 6th/8th grade festivities to professionally in his support of professional development for his teachers. He truly cares for the students of our town as his own and cares for the teachers as well. I feel honored to know Pete and feel he deserves recognition for his hard work and love he feels for the kids in our town.
Mr. Galasso is a compassionate, charismatic, innovative, and admirable administrator. Everyone loves him, from parents to students to the school faculty. He goes out of his way to research new ideas for our school district, and then works to make positive changes in our schools. After speaking with him about some of the changes in the school, it is apparent that he is full of passion for learning and teaching. There is a quote that relates to teaching and administration, “It’s not programs that make the difference, it’s people.” In this case, it’s not the programs that are making our schools great, it’s the heart and soul of Mr. Galasso’s leadership that makes the programs work. Without his passion and perseverance these programs would not be as successful. His energy and positive outlook is contagious, and it motivates all of the stakeholders to work towards the same goal. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing administrator for our children. Thank you, Mr. Galasso!
Mr. Galasso words can’t express our gratitude and appreciation. You are truly deserving of this award. Thank you for all you do. Also special thanks for dealing with my kids!!
Mr. Galasso is truly one of a kind and our town is beyond blessed to have him! The dedication he shows to his students, staff, and the community is unwavering. He so often gives up time with his own family to be at community events, which means so very much to all of us. He not only makes sure our children get the best education possible, but he makes sure they become the best people they can be. By following his lead they take the lesson of always "doing the right thing" everywhere with them in life. What a completely priceless gift this is to all of us! Mr. Galasso you truly are a life changer! You have changed the lives of my 3 children in ways that could never be measured. We are forever grateful for you and all you do!
Pete Galasso is truly one of a kind. Midland Park continues to be blessed to have him. He really connects with the kids and the parents and that is not easy to do. Mr. Galasso is not just happy with the way things are, he’s always looking to make things better.??
Midland Park is very fortunate to have such a talented, thoughtful, and innovative administrator. Mr. Galasso’s approach and execution to the many moving parts of running a 3rd-6th building encompasses appropriate developmental challenges to engage the whole child at each grade level. As a family, we fully trust his intentions and we are very happy with our child’s education. When we asked our son what he thought of Mr. Galasso, his response was, "He is a person that is kind, treats everyone with respect, and gives everyone fist bumps!" Congratulations, Mr. Galasso!
The Poggioli Family
Mr. Galasso has truly impacted our daughter’s life for the better and I know he has done the same for many more children of Midland Park. His knowledge of student dynamics is fantastic and he “gets” the importance of a well-rounded child. Mr. Galasso is one in a million and we are beyond proud to know he is a part of making Midland Park great!
I do not have my own children, but I would like to share the impression I have Mr. Galasso. My little nephew and his team of third graders reached the finals of the their travel league. The last game was late on a Saturday afternoon in March. Not really a convenient time for anyone. Just before game time in walked Mr. Galasso. You could see the word pass between the boys and the smiles on their faces told us that they were thrilled he came. This team was in no way related to the school program, but he thought enough of “his” kids to come support them on his own time. I know he made a difference to those little boys who knew their principal cared about them. I think it helped build their confidence that day as they won, but also in their everyday life. On that day I knew that Mr. Galasso was a life changer!
Words cannot express how grateful I am that my children had Mr.Galasso as a principal. He is one very special person and we are lucky to have him. Mr Galasso goes over and above his line of duty everyday! My children had great years at Highland school. They have grown so much academically and socially each at their own pace and there is no doubt in my mind that he and his staff played a huge part in that. What it comes down to is that he cares! He truly cares about the children. He talks to them with respect and listens to them when they need to talk. He expresses to them the importance of making good choices in life. It's more than just academics he is teaching them to be good people! He teaches them the importance of integrity and encourages them to always do the right thing! Mr. Galasso is a life changer! Mr. Galasso Thank you for being you !
Caring. Intelligent. Passionate. Strong. Thoughtful. Dedicated. Loyal. These words describe a person who best embodies leadership. These words describe Pete Galasso, principal of Highland Elementary School in Midland Park, NJ.
Today, we learned that Mr. Galasso has been nominated for the Life Changer of the Year Award. An award with that title requires its recipient to utilize his leadership abilities - combining his crucial qualities of caring, intelligence, passion, loyalty, thoughtfulness and dedication - to impact the lives, in an extremely meaningful manner, of those he guides and oversees. The impact, of course, must be one that is positive, one that advances the lives of others. This type of consequential imprint could be carried out by a person in any career field (medicine, law enforcement, filmmaking, politics, education, carpentry, etc). However, there are very few individuals, in any occupational area, who actually use their professional role for the primary purpose of benefiting others. Accordingly, only an extremely rare few should be nominated for an award titled “Life Changer of the Year Award”, much less be its ultimate honoree. Pete Galasso is one of the rare few.
Through personal motivation and dedication, he has had a meteoric rise to a top educational post: a principal. An exceptional student-athlete himself (he was a standout college football player who equally succeeded in his educational pursuits), Mr. Galasso held multiple other leadership posts in the Midland Park School District before accepting the principal position at Highland Elementary School. He succeeded in obtaining this high-level position at a very young age, which, in and of itself, is impressive. The district’s continual faith in Mr. Galasso in appointing him as principal (and in the previous key roles) is, no doubt, an acknowledgement of his strong commitment to education and his leadership abilities. That, however, is not enough to warrant the presentation of this award to him. There are many educators, lawyers, carpenters, police officers, doctors, etc who have advanced in their careers, but there are very few who have advanced the lives of others in a daily, meaningful way, as does Pete Galasso. This is what separates him from others:
*He doesn’t just oversee the students, he speaks to them. He hears what they say. And then he guides them.
*He is a leader of the school, not an authoritarian. That means that he looks out for the best interests of the students first.
*He doesn’t act robotically; he looks at each matter on a case-by-case basis. He would always rather see a student avoid a penalty than institute punishment. When he does institute penalties (which, of course, must occur many times in any school setting), it is fair and just - and it is after careful consideration. There are no knee-jerk reactions by him.
*He evaluates grading, teaching methods, and curriculum with that same thoughtful consideration. He will go the extra mile to ensure that the students receive fair results, through using the best practices.
*He doesn’t always say what you want to hear, but you know that what he is saying is what he believes (and you know he has thought out every decision he makes).
*He is accessible - always. He responds to phone calls and emails, not because he is required to do so, but because he wants to do so. And he responds quickly, whether it is an urgent matter or just a basic inquiry.
*He’s a teachers’ principal. And he’s a students’ principal. He doesn’t play favorites. He just does what he thinks is right.
*And he is there for the students not only during school hours. He’s the kind of leader who will just show up at an event or activity that his students are participating in - he’s actually interested in the lives of those he educates.
The above is not listed in any particular order because Pete Galasso doesn’t seem to frame matters in any rigid manner, but, simply, instead he just accomplishes all simultaneously - with terrific results. The man is successful, in the highest degree, in all of those qualitative pursuits, and this has, truly, led to him having a daily great impact on many children’s lives; he is that rare person. Pete Galsso is a winner for the students and teachers at Highland Elementary School, and that makes him worthy of the Life Changer of the Year Award.
As someone who thinks it's best to think outside the box and find the "other way" to do something, I believe Mr. Galasso exemplifies this thought process. Finding new ways to educate our children to keep them engaged but also set them up to thrive in the world we live in is not only a tough task but almost an impossible task nowadays. Forward thinking and unwilling to accept status quo appear to be at the forefront of the thought process every single moment.
Mr. Galasso has the unique qualities of principal, leader, parent, friend, listener and advisor all wrapped into one. He takes ever idea big or small and treats it with value and sees it through. Any issue big or small is treated with the same respect and given fair and equal understanding. Not many children or parents can or will ever say that about a principal and yet our whole community says it about him. He has shown each of our children to never give up and how hard work will pay off in the end. He has set the bar high in our schools and I hope everyone sees it and appreciate it. When you walk into Highland School you can feel it!
Amazing job everyday from a very humble man.
Mr. Galasso is an outstanding principal who has positively impacted my children and the children of Midland Park for many years. He is honest, fair and passionate about his job. Mr. Galasso is a leader who believes in each and every student and has been changing lives for years. The students of Highland School trust him and admire his love for learning. He sets high expectations, but at the same time, preaches the importance of having fun. We can’t think of anyone else more deserving of the Life Changer of the Year award.
It is hard to put into words the impact Mr. Galasso has and has had on the Midland Park School system. He is one of the most caring and compassionate educators out there. My children are both in High School now but I still hear if improvements and changes he makes at Highland School every year. His dedication to these children is beyond measure.
Thank you Mr. Galasso.
Mr. Galasso has made a difference in so many lives since he became principal of Highland School. I have witnessed his impact as both a parent and as a substitute teacher in his school. In the short 2 years that my son had Mr. Galasso as a principal, he raised expectations for children's behavior and gave them more freedom as the older students in the building. As usual, he trusted them to be able to handle more responsibility and they rose to the occasion, knowing he believed in them. Mr. Galasso leads by example. He has very high standards for himself as an administrator, which inspires everyone around him to have high expectations too, from staff to students. As a sub, I notice that everyone in the building respects him and appreciates the support he gives them. He cares about every single student, no matter how he gets to know them. He always wants the best for them and is creative in finding solutions for some of the most challenging situations. Around the building, Mr. Galasso has added inspiring images, quotes, and messages. He hung this banner in the Highland gym which is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: "THE MAN IN THE ARENA It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement...". Pete Galasso lives and leads as "The Man in the Arena".
To say the Mr. Galasso is passionate about his job is an understatement. He is perpetually looking to better Highland School either in its curriculum, extracurriculars or just the physical look and maintenance of the building. He looks to inspire his teachers to have the same passion giving them opportunities to expand their curriculum in a way that would be more interesting for the kids. He knows all my children by name. Knows our family. Knows the kids’ abilitIes as well as shortcomings and works to help them bridge educational gaps where it is needed. Every instance where I have reached out to him with a concern, he has contacted me back immediately with answers. He is a rare gem of an educator. Our district is so very lucky to have such an amazing advocate for our kids.
Mr Galasso ,
Simply the best. No easier way to say it. Brett and Sean were lucky to have him as a principal and mentor. Mr. Galasso not only instills strong values within the children, he leads by example. Midland Park school district is truly lucky to have him. Congratulations !! The Murray Family
Mr. Galasso earns the respect and trust of those around him, both young and "older", by showing the same. He treats people the way he'd wish to be treated. He believes if we nurture health and kindness, all the rest will fall into place. He is wise beyond his years, and was truly born to be a leader among principals!My respect, trust and thanks, always...
Mr. Galasso is consummate professional. He is the best fit as a principal of our Highland School. He balances education, personal growth and kindness to all of our Midland Park children. Working with him both professionally and as a parent has always been a positive experience. He is what embodies our town in an educator. He is always present for our kids and community. Thank you for all you do Mr. Galasso!
Mr Galasso,
Thank you for your support
Thank you for your help
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication! Thank you for creating such a amazing atmosphere in our school that helps all students succeed. No child is ever left behind at Highland.
Your dedication to your profession, to this district, and most importantly to our children is commendable! I’m truly grateful!
With deepest appreciation
The DiBenedetti Family
Mr. Galasso is truly an amazing Principal. When we walked into Highland a few years ago for the third grade orientation, I was nervous. New school, new Principal, the little kids in the big pond, etc. All those nerves as a parent went away as soon as Mr. Galasso spoke. I thought - Wow, he gets it! He gets what we as parents what. We want what's best for our kids. We want them to do well. We want them to be good people. He was on the same page as us. He said we just have to give him kids that are good kids and kids that are willing to learn and he will do the rest. He has so much confidence in his school and staff and he was right! We asked our kids what they think of Mr. Galasso and their responses were "funny, nice, kind, happy, and really funny." He goes above and beyond and we can't thank you enough! Thank you! Congratulations Mr. Galasso!
Mr. Galasso is a principal who has changed and brightened the lives of his students. He has instilled in them a desire to persist, persevere, make changes for the good and to do the right thing. My son’s 3rd grade class and Mr. Galasso came to Highland together and I’m so glad for that! In 6th grade, my son and his friend approached Mr. Galasso about starting an after-school wiffleball league. He said ok but he put the responsibility on them to organize and run it. By putting his trust in them to execute this task, he taught them leadership, responsibility and how to deal with the challenges that came about. It was a great learning experience for them! My children are very lucky to have and to have had a principal like Mr. Galasso and their lives are better because of him.
Thank you Mr. Galasso for everything you do for our children! You are a truly inspirational leader and very deserving of this award! Congratulations!
Mr Galasso has made such a significant positive impact on the students of Midland Park. He is so deserving of this award. He has raised the quality of education the students receive. His “Do the Right Thing Assemblies” encourage our children to become better. He has added so many new elective classes to spark interests in our 6th graders! Midland Park is lucky to have him in our district.
Mr. Galasso is an outstanding principal. I have 3 children at Highland and I am so happy they are all under his leadership. Not only is he guiding the staff to teach the students academics, he also frequently drives home the understanding of doing the right thing and how important it is to persevere. He treats everyone with respect and takes the time to get to know each and every student. If there is an issue he handles it professionally. Most importantly I trust him and all of his decisions because I know he has all of the students' best interests in mind.
Mr. Galasso is so deserving of this award. I know firsthand the impact he has on students and had the privledge of working with him for many years. I couldn't have asked for a better adminstrator to take care of my own kids each and everyday. I wouldn't want to drop them off to anyone else.
Thank you for the thousands of hours that you have spent voluntarily researching all the local options that are available to improve all aspects of our school. I know my kids are in the best hands ????????????
Mr Galasso is kind and professional. He is very approachable by both kids and parents. My kiddo loves and respects him, as do we.
The greatest gift you can provide a child is a life lesson. Mr Galasso offers such lessons on a daily basis helping his students not only learn and grow academically but to become a better version of themselves each day. Our District is lucky to have such an inspirational and dedicated leader.
Thank you Mr. Galasso for leading by example and being a bright light for all the children/faculty/parents. We appreciate all you do, you truly deserve this award. May you feel the love and warmth you’ve so freely given out to all!!
Mr. Galasso is so funny, makes a lot of jokes and he lets us do fun stuff! He wants everyone to be kind and he is one of the best principals in the world! I hope he wins!
Walked into our first basketball practice and Mr. Galasso was still in the building working at 6:00pm on a Friday night! What a dedicated principal! My daughter was SO excited to move up to Highland. It’s only been a few short months but she is enjoying her time in school. She loves Mr. Galasso! He’s a smart, funny and down to earth guy who connects with his students. He respects and supports his teachers and they make a great team. His school is a welcoming place for kids and their families. Our kids feel safe and know they will be treated fairly and because of this they are all blossoming. I especially love how he understands the importance of character development in our kids-understanding empathy is the heart of their success!!! Thanks for all your hard work Mr. Galasso! You deserve this award!
Mr. Galasso! Is an outstanding Principal. His passion, dedication and commitment to our school and families is truly exceptional and so fitting for this title of "life changer of the year".
Mr.Galasso is an exemplary leader who demonstrates outstanding leadership, innovation and a passion for the improvement of our schools. The climate and tone of Highland is so extremely positive and it is because Mr.Galasso is a model of positivity. He knows all of the children by their first names, can be seen in the mornings greeting them with a huge smile and is absolutely adored by his staff. He has made so many improvements to the schools such as having the inside walls painted to brighten the learning environment, supported the acquisition of a brand new playground area for our children and this year, Highland has been offering specialty clubs such as Chess, Drama and Photography to support the creative aspects of our learners. Every year learning at Highland is markedly improved and it is because of Mr.Galasso and his unrelenting efforts on both an academic and social-emotional level. I can think of no one else more deserving!
A lifechanger is defined as one having a significant effect on the course of one’s life.
Mr. Galasso doesn’t have that effect on just one life, but rather, on hundreds of students, faculty, staff and families in our community on a daily basis. He interacts with the children in the hallways, on the playground, during after school events and is simply a presence that is integral in the kids’ daily lives. He treats the children with respect, holds them accountable, acknowledges their achievements (big and small) and simply gets them ready for life outside of Highland School.
He changes their lives... he shows them what it means to be tenacious, respectful, and to simply do the right thing. Those simple yet powerful messages and actions, on a daily basis, changes and molds the incoming 3rd graders into becoming upstanding 6th graders... ready to take on the world to the best of their abilities.
Thank you Mr. Galasso. You are a natural life changer and we all appreciate you.
We love Mr. Galasso! My daughter thinks he’s soo nice and funny! I personally contacted him with a few concerns I had. He addressed them at lightening speed. He was soo receptive and wanting to help I was very impressed by him. He is very deserving of this nomination!
Mr. Galasso, has a heart of gold. He puts the students first. Has a can do attitude. He is a jolly guy who has a deep passion for making and connecting with the students. There truly is no distance he won’t go to reach a goal or explore an idea. You want a morning radio show, we will make that happen. He is always the first in and last one out of the building. His dedication and pride is unmatched and can not go unnoticed. He shines so bright and leads the way. He wants to inspire to create truly good, compassionate and empathetic human beings. He is truly deserving of this recognition and honor.
You are so kind and you always put the school before yourself. You always try to help as best as you can and teach us so many things. I can tell that you truly care. You have done so much for us and we appreciate it.
Mr. Galasso is a wonderful professional and a role model for our kids. He stands ready to help and shows great empathy with the students.
Congratulations, you truly deserve this! We appreciate you being you everyday and providing our children with an excellent leader to look up to. Thank you for all that you do!
Mr Galasso is a kind, dedicated and passionate principal who puts his heart and soul into Highland School!! His love for the students shines and has this special bond with them. He personally greets them by their first names and at times, friendly fist bumps when he meets them in the halls which always puts a smiles on their faces. We consider our children truly blessed to have him as a principal!
Mr. Galasso became the principal of Highland School my very first year of teaching. He changed my life immensely by enabling my lifelong passion of becoming an educator to come true. Not only did Mr. Galasso take a chance on a brand new teacher six years ago, but he has been nothing but supportive since day one. He knows details about every student and faculty member in the building. Despite having hundreds of tasks to complete each week, he makes it his top priority to converse with the kids and his teachers about their interests and passions. Additionally, the values he instills within his students is unlike anything I have ever seen. He makes a tremendous impact by teaching kids to be tenacious through his "Do the Right Thing" assemblies. Mr. Galasso connects with his students and faculty members by sharing personal anecdotes about his life, allowing us into his world. Over the past six years, I have seen Mr. Galasso motivate and inspire his students and staff in countless ways. He encourages students to dream big dreams and to set goals to accomplish them. He has the biggest heart and is a selfless, dedicated principal and leader. He truly makes Highland School an incredible place to be. For these reasons and more, Mr. Galasso is undoubtedly a Life Changer.
Student Testimonials:
"Mr. Galasso is a GREAT principal because he makes me feel like I am in a great school." B.J., Age 9
"Mr. Galasso is a funny principal because he makes funny jokes. He also talks to us about things you like to make you feel happy!" A.R., Age 8
"Mr. Galasso is an amazing principal because he makes me feel like Highland School is a safe place." M.T., Age 8
"Mr. Galasso is a kind principal because he never yells if someone does something bad." H.W., Age 8
"Mr. Galasso is a GREAT principal because he makes everyone's day." W.D., Age 9
"Mr.Galasso is a brilliant principal because he brings joy to kids." O.T., Age 8
It’s only our first year in Highland, but already, Mr. Galasso has made quite the impression. I’ve seen his passion as an educator and as a parent come through in various presentations. I’ve also seen him run his Heart out at field day, just like one of the kids. His vision for where he wants to take our school and community is inspiring. When I told my daughter Mr. Galasso was nominated for the Lifechanger award she told me he was so funny and so nice. When I asked her to tell me some stories, it wasn’t just her saying, “I see him as we pass by his office.” She told me stories of how he stopped to talk to them in the hall, and how he’s come into their classroom to just “talk” and get to know them and remembers everything! We are so excited to see what the next few years will bring. Congratulations, Mr. Galasso!!! We are so lucky to have you in Midland Park. ??????
Mr. Galasso is an exceptional principal and human being. He leads wholeheartedly, fostering, expecting, and appreciating an atmosphere where teamwork thrives. This continually renews and restores my faith in our collective purpose as a school community, because it shows us how much he respects and values each and every one of us. His sincere words and actions are truly one-of-a-kind, and this is what makes our school a wonderful, successful institution that we can call home 180 days a year. It is refreshing to walk into Highland every day with a smile, knowing that we all have Mr. Galasso's guidance, support, and advocacy. Unreservedly, he deserves every ounce of recognition he receives for the amount of lives he positively impacts on a daily basis. We are highly grateful for his presence!
Mr. Galasso is a truly great person with the difficult job of running Highland School and making it the best it can be. He does this with an amazing team of teachers and staff, and they make it look easy. Like a coach of an all star team, he is always setting the bar high and exceeding expectations. He is a principal that students, teachers and parents love because he leads with kindness. There is no doubt that he puts 110% into our school and our children. My kids feel happy to go to school because he creates an environment where they feel safe and supported. They love him because he's funny and kind and he looks out for them. I couldn't ask for a better role model and principal for our children. Thank you, Mr. Galasso, for all of your hard work and for putting your heart into what you do for our children. You are one of a kind!
I am a student at Highland school. Mr. Galasso is a hard working principal. He is kind and a good listener. He listens to every word you have to say and doesn't miss anything. He's funny and makes me feel happy because he's always happy. He is supportive when you need help and makes sure everything is ok. I hope you win Mr. Galasso, because you deserve it!
Mr. Galasso is a selfless, dedicated and passionate principal. He always looks out for each student, wanting each one of us to be the very best version of ourselves. I’m so grateful for having had him as my principal. He cared about me and always listened to any issues, concerns or ideas I had. The Do The Right Thing assemblies were always so inspiring and challenged us to dream big and work hard. Now that I’m in high school, I look back at my years at Highland and realize how much I learned about myself because of the many lessons Mr. Galasso taught us. He is simply the best!
After working for multiple principals, Mr. Galasso is in a class of his own. I have never met a leader who is so willing to give credit where it is due. Even though he is in a leadership role, he consistently asks for the opinions of his staff. He makes his teachers feel as though they are his equals. He has often told us that without him, the school day can go on, but without his teachers, it can't. He makes us feel valued and appreciated. The reason why his teachers work as hard as they do is because he brings it out of us. He makes us want to work hard and do our best. He encourages us to persevere and be tenacious. On top of that, he focuses on such important values and morals when it comes to what to instill in his students. When he speaks, you can hear a pin drop because the students AND teachers don't want to miss one word that he says. We are the luckiest school in the world to have Mr. Galasso as our principal and leader. He has created an environment that brings out the best in everyone who steps foot here. We are thankful for him. He is truly a life-changer.
Mr. Galasso is an educator that demonstrates great character and leadership as the principal of Highland School. Students, parents and staff alike should be thankful for an administrator who possesses an abundance of empathy and compassion for all. My son’s education has been profoundly impacted by this man and I’m confident the next two Leckies will have similar experiences. WELL DONE and THANK YOU!
I have been a teacher for eight years, working at Highland School for almost seven. I am truly lucky to work with Mr. Galasso. He has impacted every single student at Highland School, on a daily basis. I have never met an administrator who knows the students better than Mr. Galasso. He greets them by name when he sees them and gives them a fist bump to acknowledge them and make them feel special. He also pushes students to try their best and never give up, reminding them to persevere and be tenacious. Mr. Galasso started “Do The Right Thing” assemblies which have created an inspiring school culture. Each assembly has a theme with an impactful presentation. Not only does he take time to thoughtfully plan the assemblies, he honors students in front of four grade levels, so everyone knows how wonderful they are. He truly makes the students feel special. Mr. Galasso also wants what is best for each student, even if that means he has to do more work to get them there. He stays after school, has students to work in his office, and has encouraging conversations, so they know he has confidence in them.
In addition to acknowledging the students, he takes time to send the teachers encouraging emails throughout the year. During the holidays, he always sends out a letter that is clearly very heartfelt. Knowing that Mr. Galasso takes the time to do these things, lets us know how much he appreciates us, which in turn, is why so many people appreciate him. Mr. Galasso has always been there to support and encourage us. He gives teachers confidence and allows us to feel comfortable going to him for advice. I cannot imagine working for an administrator other than Mr. Galasso. Highland School is a wonderful place to teach, and Mr. Galasso makes it even more enjoyable. He deserves to be honored and recognized for the great leader he has always been.
Since joining the team at Highland School, We have been blown away by the community and atmosphere in the building. This has everything to do with the principal's leadership. Mr. Galasso allows us to have professional autonomy in our classrooms. He guides new teachers through his self-created mentor program and always ensures we have what we need. Mr. Galasso demonstrates what it means to be a leader. He is passionate about what he does and takes initiative to make our school a better place.
Proving that Mr. Galasso deserves the Life Changer of the Year award is an easy one. Seeing all of the Amazing comments from the Community is proof in itself. However, I would like to share one of my most memorable moments. My son has severe ADHD. Last year my son said the dreaded "F" word in class and was sent to the principals office. Of course I got a call from Mr. Galasso. I began to apologize profusely but Mr. Galasso stopped me. He said this isn't a bad thing. It is almost the end of the year and this is the first time seeing him in my office. He told me he was proud of him that he did so well during the year considering his disability. Then he proceeded to tell me he handled it and was giving him a morning detention the next day. He didn't make me feel like a bad parent, he looked at the situation with a positive attitude and he handled the situation professionally. Mr. Galasso YOU ROCK!!! Thank you for loving our children as much as we do.
I think one of the most powerful traits of Mr. Galasso is that he always asks "Why?". He is not content with accepting the status quo. He is always willing to challenge the reasoning behind why things have been done a certain way and will always listen to your thoughts on how things can be done differently. I was a student in the Midland Park District and I am now the Instrumental Music and Music Technology teacher at Highland School. While I have seen improvements in our school over the many decades I have been a part of it, they seem to have come in rapid succession when Mr. Galasso became the Principal of our school. Mr. Galasso has supported the Music Department in our efforts to raise money to improve our performance space. Over the course of 4 years, we raised close to $100,000 to upgrade our classrooms, stage, stage lighting, and sound system. We were also able to purchase Acoustic Panels for the Gym walls, which would not have been possible without Mr. Galasso's help. Mr. Galasso has also allowed me to make changes to our overall Instrumental Music Curriculum which have garnered positive results throughout the District's Music Program. For some students, music is the thing that will help them discover who they are. To have a Principal that supports the Arts and embraces change the way Mr. Galasso does truly earns him the title of LifeChanger!
Mr. Galasso has instilled a culture of kindness and giving in our school. He has a passion for education and to give our children the best opportunities to learn. His openness with parents and his "tell it like it is" attitude is a breath of fresh air to parents who appreciate honesty and integrity. The teachers and students all love him which tells you that he is an authentic person who cares deeply about our school. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Mr. Galasso. He is a true inspiration to everyone and a man who helps inspire others to strive to be their best.
Sincerely,
Carrie Eliopoulos
Mr. Galasso is a selfless, dedicated and passionate principal. He always looks out for each student, wanting each one of us to be the very best version of ourselves. I’m so grateful for having had him as my principal. He cared about me and always listened to any issues, concerns or ideas I had. The Do The Right Thing assemblies were always so inspiring and challenged us to dream big and work hard. Now that I’m in high school, I look back at my years at Highland and realize how much I learned about myself because of the many lessons Mr. Galasso taught us. He is simply the best!
Mr. Galasso,
You really helped me out through the years. I really admire you, you gave me good life lessons. You’re a legend!!!!
I couldn’t picture a better principal than Mr. Galasso! The enthusiasm he brings and the support to his students his amazing. He is the kind of principal you wish you had when you were a kid. He doesn’t just think of ideas on how to bring students together, he plans it out and follows it through. He has the respect from students, faculty, and parents. He goes above and beyond to make sure that every thing is working out. As a parent himself, he helps relate to the parents on special occasions, like back to school night. Helps us get in and out. I will never forget the day I got a phone call from him. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I get a call from Highland School around 3. Now, the kids are already home since it was a half day. He automatically says, “Everything is fine”. He then continues to tell me that he just wanted to reach out and let me know what a wonderful and happy daughter I have. How she is always smiling in the halls and is a pleasure to have in his school. He said he just wanted to let me know that before he left for Thanksgiving break. That call felt so amazing. You always hope you are doing right by your child, but to have the principal tell you helps confirm it. My daughters say he is the best and I couldn’t agree more. There is no better principal. No one deserves this more than him!
I can't think of anyone else more deserving of this award! Mr. Galasso epitomizes what a great agent of change is and should be to his staff, students, parents and entire school district. He doesn't settle for mediocracy or just being good enough...he strives for greatness in everything for Highland Elementary School. His ability to think outside the box, engage partnering stakeholders, empower his staff to reach new heights, gain respect from ALL students, respect all students, staff and parents, collaborate with both internal and external partners, promote character education EVERY DAY in EVERY THING, lead with integrity, pave the way for other administrators to try new things, inspire EVERYONE to be a better version of themselves and to be a true example of humbleness makes him the most deserving nominee for this award.
He has told parents that he will ALWAYS be thinking and promoting new ideas to improve our school and district each year and will never tire of making sure those changes keep moving the school forward to being the ABSOLUTE BEST SCHOOL for his students, staff and community. That is how a change agent thinks!
Mr. Galasso doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He has taught our kids the meaning and living out of words like integrity, tenacity, respect, honesty, etc. His desire to make each student practice kindness, respect, and honesty is evident and promoted in all he does and how he interacts with each student every day. It is what makes the school culture so incredible! When the PTA and school celebrated Principal's day last school year in May, each student was asked to write on a paper "hand print" a word, phrase or message to Mr. Galasso to share why they thought he was the best principal. The students wrote messages like: "Thank you for supporting me and helping me reach my dreams. You are the most amazing principal ever and I'm so proud to be a part of Highland School! You are a role model.", "I am so so lucky and so is the school for having such a great person - the best!","Thank you for being a kind principal and doing fun things for us.", "Tenacious - you are the best principal ever!", "You say everyone else is wise but, you don't know that you are actually wise yourself.", "Mr. Galasso is hardworking because he tries to make us nice kids." And they used words like tenacious, hardworking, kind, respectful, truthful, nice, thoughtful, funny, sweet, the best, caring, and supportive to describe him. It is truly evident that the children respect, care for and admire him.
As for my family, he has always taken a sincere interest in each one of my children's lives and academic,social and emotional success. When we noticed a speech issue with my youngest in 3rd grade, he moved so quickly to get her the resources and help she needed to correct it. When he noticed that maybe there was an issue with something going on in a class, he called my daughter to discuss her feelings on how the situation was going for her. He listened to her and other students to get a full picture of the situation. The kids' voices meant a lot to him and that meant a lot to the kids! There are so so many other personal examples that touched our family in how he cared for our kids as individuals, they are too long to list!
Having been very involved in the PTA throughout my children's elementary years, I have seen first hand his support, efforts and partnership with all the PTA does. He worked tirelessly on our behalf, became a cheerleader for the organization and helped us problem solve when needed. And he ALWAYS supported new ideas that we brought forth that we thought would help enhance the school experience for the students and staff. He never said no...he only asked how he could help! Mr. Galasso is someone that is willing to help everyone achieve greatness!
We are blessed to have Mr. Galasso as a leader in our school district. We are forever grateful for creating a school culture that strives for academic and personal excellence while never losing sight of the most important goal - helping to shape kind, honest, hardworking, respectful and tenacious future leaders!
Sincerely,
Kerri, Mark, Ben, Alexa and Olivia Schaefer
Mr Galasso is the best thing that ever happened to Midland Park school system. From the way that he engages with the students, to the way that he handles parents and their concerns, he is just the BEST! He has changed so many things at Highland school for the better and we are so thankful that our kids were fortunate enough to have him as not only their mentor, but as principal. My kids have grown out of Highland school now but he was the hardest thing to leave. He goes above and beyond for our kids and it shows every single day. He truly cares about our kids and takes being a principal to a whole new level. Thanks Mr. Galosso for all of your years of dedication to the children of Midland Park, we wish you could follow our kids up the the Junior/Senior High school because you are a one of a kind. ??
I have never met a more honest and humble administrator. Mr. Galasso cares about each student, not only academically, not even academically first, in fact, (I never thought of it this way before but,) I think his only interest in the kids academics comes from his conviction that education; growing as a person and being challenged to continually explore life, is the key to their personal success at every level. When I've shared concerns he has listened and when possible even has made policy changes- and not next year policy changes, next week changes. We would not have survived last year without him. (I mean that Pete!)
Mr. Galasso is so much more then our principal at Highland School. He’s a leader, a protector, a mentor, a role model, a detective, an advocate and a friend. My husband and I are both Midland Park natives and have lived in this town for 46 years, our families have generations in this town. We can honestly say that there has never been an educator or administrator that has impacted our school system, our community and our students the way in which Pete Galasso has, he is simply amazing. He has a way in relating to our kids and parents at Highland like no other. He is fair yet stern and is respected by all who meet him. Always looking to improve our school he has implemented electives for our 6th graders and fully prepares them to move up to the High School. You can also find him after hours at various sporting events cheering on our kids. He came to our sons baseball game last year and my son will never forget it. There is no doubt that he has changed the lives and direction of many at Highland School, my kids included. He listens before reacting, he contemplates before implementing and I have found myself trusting him 100% when it comes to making decisions for our kids. Even if I don’t agree with his decisions I tell myself “this is Galasso, I need to put my faith in him, he knows what he’s doing” and then bam, like magic, everything works out for the best. Our twin boys left Highland last year and moved up to the high school. Last month I asked them and about 10 of their friends what they missed most about Highland. The answer was simple, immediate and unanimous “Galasso”. Thank you Mr. Galasso for having my kids backs, for making their school a better place, for being their advocate, for your compassion, kindness and empathy but most importantly thank you for making them better people.
Mr. Galasso is "a true leader who has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He probably didn’t set out to be such a strong leader, but he became one with the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." He has the unique ability to affect everyone he interacts with and make them want to be better people. The best part about Mr. Galasso is that he doesn’t realize how great he truly is. He’s genuine and sincere and simply is who he is...a life changer.
Mr Galasso thank you so much for your amazing dedication to our children. You are the best thing that could have happened to our community. Thank you for being a fearless leader who has the best interest of our children at hand. You strive to make better people of our children each day ??
I am a Midland Park alumni and I say to anyone who will listen that I am jealous that I never got to have Mr. Galasso as my principal. Although I missed out on this, I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Mr. Galasso on school enhancement and character building projects. Mr. Galasso sat with me to coordinate messages and murals to be painted on school walls. He gave me his full support and trusted me with the projects, which made me want to do my best. Mr. Galasso was my advisor for my Girl Scout Gold Award as well. He attended my ceremony to support me even though he could have been at home with his family. Midland Park and especially Highland School is very lucky to have someone who believes in them the way Mr. Galasso does.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Galasso first as a parent and then as my boss. From the minute I met him, I knew that he had the best interests of the student body and staff at heart. He hit the ground running, so to speak when he came to Highland School by immediately upgrading school supplies, addressing safety issues and enhancing the appearance of the school to reflect a positive place VS a more institutional look. He has since initiated various "elective" classes for students that encompass a broad reach of interests. What I find most impressive is that he has earned the respect of the student body while still enforcing an expected code of conduct. He shows an individual interest in each student and makes time for them as they realize their own potential. His methods are original and successful, making the kids want to try harder. He has made his mark on our community and is especially deserving of this award.
Mr. Galasso is an exceptional principal. The world needs more people like Mr. Galasso. He is one of those people that the moment he walks in the room you know immediately that you are going to like him. He exudes so much energy and enthusiasm in everything he does. I love the fact that he was vice principal at our high school and moved down to our 3rd - 6th elementary school. He works very hard to make sure each and every child is fully prepared for High School. If there is a student struggling he takes that child under his wing and does everything in his power to help them to be their very best. He truly loves and cares about each and every child in our town. He has introduced so many amazing classes to our elementary students. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful person guiding our children through elementary school. We fully support Mr. Galasso as Life Changer of the Year. Love, The Monahan Family
Mr.Galasso has been a great fan to our family!
All our children have had the experience of his genuine, respectful, kind and motivational contribution to our children’s lives, which will always be admired!!!!!
God Luck!!!
Mr Galasso has been an amazing addition to Highland School since day one. He has a way about him that makes the students want to be the best they can be. He has always been a tremendous support whenever anyone needed it. We are so very lucky to have him!
The word that we constantly use to describe Pete Galasso is genuine! He genuinely cares for his students!
He genuinely supports his teachers, staff & students! He genuinely is up front and honest. He sets a wonderful example for our children and genuinely inspires them!
My son is in 7th grade now but while he was a student at Highland School his principal, Mr. Galasso, dramatically improved my sons situation at school. He helped his classmates to accept him and to understand him. Mr. Galasso gets to know all of his students, but I can say that without Mr. Galasso, my son would have failed 6th grade. Mr.G recognized that although my son was able to do the work he was not doing his homework. So he invited my son to his office afterschool everyday to do his homework. Who does that? Mr.Galasso does that. That one act, and there were many other ways Mr.G helped my son, changed my life, and my families life but more importantly gave my son a chance to change his life for the better. Mr. Galasso deserves awards and accolades but he would never seek them out himself. He changes lives on a daily basis, that is why I am so happy that someone thought to nominate him for The Life Changer of the Year Award.
My son came into highland with good grades but a pretty bad spoiled attitude. Within one year Mr Galssso completely changed the way he thinks, acts and sees his peers and teachers.
Mr Galasso has changed my sons life!!!
P.S. My son just dictated this to me when I notified him that Mr Galasso was nominated...
Words can not adequately express the impact Mr Galasso had on our son. Mr Galasso encouraged our son when he was confronted with challenges that many adults would have had difficulty dealing with. He lifted our son up daily. When others failed to take the time to learn about our son and judged him, based on their lack of understanding, Mr Galasso always stood in his corner...quietly highlighting all the wonderful things others hadn’t quite yet acknowledged in our son. Mr Galasso always encourage our son to be the best he could be...knowing all along that it was only a matter of time when our son would live up to all that he had the potential to be. The summer after our son graduated from Mr Galasso’s school, we found a letter in our mail. It was from Mr Galasso, reminding our son what an incredible young man he is and to never allow anyone to tell him otherwise. That card remains posted on the wall of my son’s room. It was an act of kindness that truly changed the way a young boy saw himself...it was the act of a life changer.
I will always be grateful that my daughter was able to benefit from the many changes that Mr. Galasso implemented in his first year at Highland and her last year at Highland. I believe she transitioned to Jr. High school much easier because of him. He is a great educator and all around nice guy!!
Mr. Galasso is an outstanding principal who leads the kids by example. He was so helpful to us last year by helping my daughter when she was struggling with anxiety and even provided me with details about his observations that I could share with her therapist. Another mom in town shared recently that Mr. Galasso helped her search a dumpster to find her daughter’s retainer when she lost it at lunch one day. The list goes on!
We are big fans of Mr. Galasso. My kids say, “ he is funny, cool and just awesome in general”. Mr. Galasso allowed my son to start a Dungeons and Dragons Club which made his dream come true. Thank you Mr. Galasso for being you!
From day one, Mr. Pete Galasso impressed us with his enthusiasm and his genuine desire to determine the best way to support and motivate every child. His ultimate goal is for our students to be self-reliant, resilient, respectful, humble, kind and contributing members of society. To that end, he created his “Do the Right Thing” assembly programs which have had a tremendous impact on both our students AND staff. Each assembly begins with a character-building lesson he prepares to drive home behaviors and attitudes of successful human beings. Engaging and age-appropriate, the assemblies are eagerly and enthusiastically attended. Everyone leaves inspired and motivated.
Mr. Galasso is personally invested in the staff, students and the climate of the school. He makes the staff his “team” and he is the coach and mentor. By encouraging teachers to bring in new ideas, suggest improvements, or even create new courses for enriching student learning, he has transformed Highland School. Video-editing, woodworking, interactive band, creative math, a student-run store, an academic support lab after school, a Makerspace, a sign language club, team building activities, community outreach programs, Nearpod for the whole school, the Smile Box and Golden Sneaker Class Award are just a few of the new ideas teachers have suggested and he made possible it to implement. Mr. Galasso’s contagious passion to help all students energizes us all to strive toward excellence.
He is not one to seek the spotlight, but would rather focus on the success of his teachers and students. As is evidenced in this testimonial, Mr. Galasso exemplifies what it means to be a Life Changer, exuding passion, initiative, creativity, and determination while inspiring others toward excellence in education. Thank you for considering him as a recipient of the Life Changer of the Year award.
