Patti M. Schlaegel

Granby Elementary School
Worthington City Schools
Columbus, Ohio
pschlaegel@wscloud.org

In her seven years as principal of Granby Elementary School, Patti Schlaegel has strived to practice leadership as a “facilitator of change.” Building on 24 years as an elementary school teacher and instructional coach, Schlaegel has embodied this vision by building leadership in others, building the capacity of staff to implement systems that holistically support student achievement. To this end, in the course of her tenure, she has implemented a continuous improvement process, MTSS, PBIS, and teacher-based teams, among other initiatives. Recognizing social-emotional well-being as fundamental to academic performance, Schlaegel has worked creatively to develop resources that allow every student to show up fully and reach their maximum potential. For example, she recently worked with district leadership to develop a “Breakfast in the Classroom” program to ensure that all Granby students have access to a nutritious breakfast. She also developed a PBIS-supportive Family Groups program that strengthens community relationships through mixed-age small groups, one of many initiatives that parents appreciate for its focus on positive character-building. Schlaegel successfully led Granby in applying for an OAESA Hall of Fame School Award, a process which she says strengthened teamwork by prompting reflection on the school’s history and envisioning a bright future. She holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton and a B.S. in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University, Columbus.