Glenn J. Gualtieri

Bailey Lake Elementary School
Clarkston Community Schools
Clarkston, Michigan
gjgualtieri@clarkston.k12.mi.us

In his 14 years as principal of Bailey Lake Elementary, Glenn Gualtieri has prioritized creating a school community where every student and staff member’s voice is heard and where each person’s strengths are recognized. He enacts this commitment by greeting each of his 500 students by name and visiting all 23 classrooms on a daily basis. Connections are fostered in myriad ways, from the Peer Pals program where students with special needs are paired with students who can provide assistance and companionship to the mentoring program where students are matched with staff for the duration of their elementary school career. Emotional intelligence and fostering community are as much a part of Bailey Lake Elementary’s culture as is the school’s differentiated curriculum model and consistently high academic performance. Special events like Grandparents’ Day, service learning projects with local animal shelters, and the Blessings in a Backpack school supply donation program highlight the community focus of Gualtieri’s leadership. Colleagues and Parent-Teacher Association members laud Gualtieri’s reputation as an inspiring and thoughtful leader whose humor, humility, and larger-than-life personality have helped him gain the trust and respect of his staff and students as he continues to steer Bailey Lake Elementary on the path of excellence. Gualtieri received his Masters of Arts in K-12 Education from Michigan State University and his Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University.