Meet John D’Adamo Ph.D.
John D'Adamo, Ph.D.
Assistant Head of School / Head of Middle & Upper School - York Country Day School (York, PA)
MSA: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you land in the world of education and what has your journey entailed?
John: My Dad was a teacher and my Mom was an school administrative assistant, so I pretty much grew up in school buildings. I was always around teachers and other education professionals as a young person, and quickly developed the idea that I would be a teacher when I grew up. After majoring in English/Secondary Education in college, I landed my first job teaching high school English. I stayed there for 10 years, and still think of myself as a teacher when I look in the mirror. However, I did make the move to admin at that time, serving as an assistant principal and then principal at several schools over the next 13 years. It's been a wonderful journey that has led to valuable lessons and cherished relationships!
MSA: Thanks for sharing that with us. Could you tell us what motivates you to work in the field of education?
John: I believe that teaching is fundamentally an act of optimism. We believe that our efforts to connect with a student have the capacity for success and the potential for lifelong impact. That is a big deal! That underlying belief has the ability to change the world every single day.
MSA: Could you describe a specific change project you have been a part of. What were the main obstacles? How did you overcome them?
John: Like so many school administrators, I was at ground zero when COVID hit. As a principal and head of school at the time, I had to guide our community through that period of massive and sudden change. We had to identify funding, training, and communication vehicles that previously did not exist. We had to shape those resources into something new that no one at the time knew how to build. We overcame the tremendous obstacles in that moment by relying on community and trusting each other. We focused on the mission and what mattered most - our students and our staff. Lifting each other up become priority number one - just as it should even when it's not a pandemic!
MSA: What does "learning in community" mean to you? How do you stay connected and in-the-know about all things education?
John: "Learning in Community" is about staying connected. Recognizing that one person alone does not have all of the answers about education. We must continue to reach out to new sources of knowledge and growth in order to continually improve and learn. I keep topics of interest on my radar online and in social media, and I set aside regular time to discuss ideas with those in my circle. I also keep asking who else needs to be in my circle!
MSA: What is a critical topic / question in education that everyone will have to attend to in the future?
John: Generative artificial intelligence will be the biggest game changer of this era of education. When we look back at this period in history, it will be clear that it was a turning point for so many aspects of society. Educators must not sit out this conversation! It is imperative that we participate in the ongoing dialogue about this paradigm-shifting technology and how it will impact the lives of our students and our communities.
MSA: Thank you for sharing your change story with us John!
Contact: jdadamo1@ycds.org | Linked In
