In this powerful episode of Something Extra, we sit down with Frank DeAngelis, retired principal of Columbine High School and a dedicated voice in education and school safety. As a founding member of the Principal’s Recovery Network and author of "They Call Me Mr. De: The Story of Columbine's Heart, Resilience, and Recovery," Frank shares his journey of leading a community through unimaginable tragedy. Through the DeAngelis Center Foundation, he now trains and supports schools and communities across the country. Tune in to hear Frank’s reflections on leadership, courage, and the deep bonds that drive positive change in education and beyond.
Bio: Frank DeAngelis was a staff member at Columbine High School in the Jeffco School District in Littleton Colorado, since 1979, starting as a Social Studies teacher and filling the roles of Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal, before becoming the principal in 1996. Frank is a Colorado native, completing his K-12 education in Denver-area schools, proceeding to graduate from Metropolitan State College and subsequently from the University of Colorado with a Master's Degree in Secondary Education and Social Studies, his Principal’s License and Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix.
Frank has been involved in numerous professional activities and associations, and has received multiple awards for his teaching, leadership and coaching skills. He has also been called upon to speak about recovery after a school tragedy at a variety of conferences and has assisted as a consultant after a number of other violent school events. He was selected as Colorado High School Principal of the Year and was one of the three finalists for National Principal of the Year. He received the Jefferson Country Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Award. He retired in June of 2014 after 35 years at Columbine High School. He is presently serving as a consultant for safety and emergency management for the Jeffco School District in Colorado. He is one of the founders of the Principal Recovery Network and continues to deliver speeches in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Frank’s Something Extra: "You treat people the way you want to be treated—and that's the environment you have, because during the tough times, love needs to get us through it all. Love."
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