Part of the school year is now under our belt. Educators and families have officially settled into the school routine. Now that the craziness of back to school is over, it is a great time to learn more about the people that your little one is spending the day with.
Mr. DeSarbo is the principal of Paddock Elementary School. We talked with him to help you get to know him as a member of the school community.
Educational background
DeSarbo is entering his 30th year in elementary education, and 21st year as an elementary school principal. He earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Masters in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University.
DeSarbo taught 8 years at the 5th grade level, and 1 year at 2nd grade. Previously he worked in Warren, Michigan, but this is now his 15th year in Milan.
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Paddock Elementary
At Paddock Elementary there are students ranging from birth to 1st grade. They have an infant and toddler program, a tuition and GSRP preschool program, and young 5s through 1st grade. DeSarbo is the building principal for the young 5s through 1st grade students.
DeSarbo has many goals for the school, one of the biggest being giving students a feeling of belonging, “I have always tried to prioritize the culture of a school. I believe that if students feel safe and valued and accepted and teachers feel valued and supported and accepted, then it creates a culture where success is just the..sky’s the limit,” DeSarbo said.
He continued, “For me it has always been about building relationships, so building solid relationships with families, and solid relationships with the students and the staff, so kind of encouraging that amongst the staff as well. I feel that if students feel safe and the environment is predictable and nurturing they can…accomplish so many things. You can get the latest and greatest curriculum and put forth a lot of money into that but if you don’t have those relationships and the school culture, it doesn’t matter.”
DeSarbo described one of his favorite parts of being principal as building relationships with students and staff, and families. He feels like it is crucial to the well being of students to work together as one support system.
DeSarbo said, “I really do believe that raising a child, it does take a village, and especially in these days we all have to work together. And not one person even with 30 years of experience has all the answers but if you work together as a team in the school and you work together with the families, the sky’s the limit for the kids. I definitely love the relationships with the kids that I have built.
Personal life
DeSarbo has 2 children of his own that are both in college. Despite his kids being away from home, DeSarbo loves to make time for family.
“Family is everything to me so I try to even though they are at college I try to find times in the calendar that I can still stay connected with them,” he said.
He also enjoys spending time with his wife and dog. DeSarbo is also a big fan of college football, and is loving that games are going on right now.
Hopes for students
DeSarbo shared a final goal that he has for every student in his building, “A top goal is always to do whatever we can to help each child grow academically and socially. So getting to know each child as an individual and meeting them where they are and working as a staff to put support in place to help them be successful. You know it’s not a one fit for every child, every child is unique and different so our goal is always to help them achieve as best they can academically and socially.”
