Educator Profile    Educators

Gregory O'Connell (IA '04)

Principal

West Wllow Elementary School
Cedar Rapids, IA

Grade(s): Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

At the time of the Award, Gregory O'Connell was:

Facilitator/Assistant Principal
Grant Wood Elementary School
Cedar Rapids, IA

https://www.cr.k12.ia.us


Biographical Information

Gregory O'Connell is the principal at West Willow Elementary School in Cedar Rapids for the past two years. He has continued to lead the building of nearly 600 students from Preschool-5th grade. Greg has worked with his team to lead a new building by creating, implementing, modeling and practicing all the new expectations and procedures in a brand new place! Prior to that he was Principal at Coolidge Elementary, which was demolished as the new building was built in their backyard. Previously he was the Principal at Wright Elementary and before that a teacher and facilitator/assistant principal at Grant Wood Elementary School, O'Connell used hands-on activities to engage students, offered Guided Reading instruction and encouraged reading through the Wise Owl Book Club, providing rewards for students who achieved specific reading goals. He participated in the school's mentoring program and facilitated the Grant Wood Ambassadors, a leadership program for fifth graders. He has assumed many leadership roles in the school and the district.


Personal Message

Currently I am working in an elementary building to set and communicate direction with our district alignment procedures. I am finding that there is not a lot of time to get everything done during the day. My major struggle is getting to classrooms on a daily basis and keep everything else flowing!


Related Connections

Article: What I Wish My Students Knew


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