2022 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the year Bridget O’Connell Stimulates Relationships, People Society

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t in the first place slated to attend Lehigh but could with full confidence claim that she made just the right decision immediately after being employed to perform for the latest track and field people. Due to the fact a good three-date scholar–making her student, master’s and you can doctoral amount most of the away from Lehigh-O’Connell loans quite a few of the woman enjoy on Lehigh to help you their newest professional achievement due to the fact a good superintendent. “There is certainly no chance I could’ve identified they at that time, but some of feel I learned as a result of becoming a runner, instruction track due to the fact a scholar secretary, plus in the newest classroom within Lehigh are made use of each and every day once the good superintendent.”

Already superintendent off Palisades School Section during the Higher Cash State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell might have been patient throughout the academic achievement, promoting student wellness and enhancing the programs by making use of technology, that has an on-line reading academy for students one circulated over a decade before.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. has actually this new President’s Tailgate together with her girl and Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 before the 157th meeting amongst the Lehigh and you may Lafayette activities teams.

All this works has gained their not merely the new superintendent term, nevertheless the state off Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to own 2022, and throughout good pandemic, nevertheless. “[New honor] keeps my identity involved, but it is very throughout the our entire class men and women.” O’Connell continues, “I adore my job to have unnecessary explanations. While i focus on pupils, I do want to tune in to from them what is actually going well and you can what they wish to select alter. Out-of one feedback we’re have a tendency to able to perform things regarding it.”

So that as Lehigh remembers half a century off coeducation, O’Connell shown to the milestone stating that the newest ventures female currently have is actually a present throughout the women that came ahead of him or her

With that exact same times getting compassionate regarding the individuals, she creates an opportunity during the for each and every team fulfilling for all so you can share what exactly is supposed better myself and skillfully, “We anticipate this part of each appointment,” O’Connell says. “I favor reading on what is certian really during the per coworker’s existence, particularly throughout challenging times when we can just dwell on the negative.”

O’Connell’s kinds during the Lehigh within the English and you may anthropology since the an undergraduate scholar, then informative frontrunners at master’s and you can doctoral top, the drove domestic the theory the community away from a residential area, or in O’Connell’s instance, a school program, is essential to creating a profitable work and discovering environment. O’Connell has good values you to definitely rotate around teamwork, taking anybody together with her, marketing, union and frontrunners. She claims the learning Leadership Program on the College regarding Degree prepared her in a number of means. “I laugh that the only class I [might have put on] Lehigh is certainly one in meteorology,” O’Connell says, listing it might come in handy whenever this lady has and also make inclement weather calls for the college program.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps a beneficial Lehigh recreations head protection from the President’s Tailgate in advance of this new 157th edition of your Rivalry.

It absolutely was and courtesy the woman positive skills once the a student-runner you to she obtained an opportunity to act as a team head and you may started initially to know what management looks like. She credits it as among the of many defining moments out of the lady big date from the Lehigh. Since the a frontrunner you might be, “Usually offered how-to promote being intentional in the doing new room to do this in order to bring anyone together and behave as a team.” O’Connell states a lot of you to definitely habit already been because a head, following because a scholar secretary, into the track and field class.

Her attract targets their strong love of the new classroom, people and building long-term relationship with each communications

O’Connell’s advice about somebody trying receive a leadership standing is actually by the putting on experience from the selecting leaders ventures within this activities they’ve been already interested in. She plus welcomed those people seeking training to make contact with her.

An enthusiastic https://datingranking.net/escort-directory/milwaukee/ Easton, Pennsylvania, indigenous, O’Connell will continue to sit linked to Lehigh of the teaching while the an enthusiastic adjunct teacher, serving for the dissertation committees and also as chair of your own Lehigh Analysis Council towards the University from Knowledge. She is the fresh 1995 category correspondent to have Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially has actually planning recreations, and you may was very happy to manage to bring her daughters to help you brand new 157th version of your Competition between Lehigh and Lafayette within the November.