In the Fall of 2017, Principal Pete Galasso allowed me to shadow him.  We set up the date over the Summer and since we knew each other from my days as an instructional para-educator in New Milford when he was a Social Studies teacher at the same middle school, he readily responded with a resounding, "Yes!"   He was transparent with me on the aspects of being a principal from his perspective.    I observed that his connection to the staff and students was genuine and that his leadership in that setting had really made a difference.  He had inherited the building from a prior principal who had a very different vision from his own.  He found a way to patch up some areas that needed fixing around his school (both literally and figuratively).  His superintendent has the utmost respect for him and she gives him support.  I sense that the feeling is mutual.  The parents are also fond of his style of leadership. The messages below were displayed in various areas of Principal Galasso's office.  The "Great Principal" message was framed and right next to his double computer monitors.