Antonio Vendramin, a principal in the Surrey School District, shares his experience and insights in education. He discusses his journey from being a classroom teacher to a principal and his passion for opening a new school. Antonio emphasizes the importance of building relationships with students, colleagues, and parents, and the impact it has on learning. He believes in the power of personalization and creating joyful classrooms where students are engaged and enjoy their learning. Antonio also highlights the need for continuous learning and staying relevant as an educator. Antonio Vendramin discusses his experience as a principal and the challenges and opportunities of working at the district level. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the decision-making process at the district level and the interconnectivity of different departments. He also highlights the need for principals and teachers to visit the board office and for district administrators to visit schools to foster better understanding and collaboration. Antonio shares insights on district-wide implementations and the importance of having a clear why, building relationships, and allowing for sufficient time for change to take hold. He envisions a future of education that is personalized, tailored to students' strengths and passions, and focused on positive psychology.
Follow:Instagram,Tik Tok,Youtube,LinkedIn
Website: jasonbuccheri.com
About: Each week, we bring you candid and personal interviews with educators and edtech leaders.
New episodes: Every Tuesday & Thursday—don’t miss next week’s conversation!
Join the convo: What’s your take on today’s discussion? Feedback is good! Comment below.
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Antonio reflects on coming back to school leadership
[00:00:49] Introduction to Antonio Vendramin
[00:02:37] The current school year and district context
[00:03:10] Career journey: classroom to district to principal
[00:05:04] Opening a new school and finding purpose
[00:07:08] Early years and parental influence
[00:08:30] Teaching as a calling and support from his wife
[00:11:00] Staying connected with kids as a principal
[00:12:07] The value of unstructured childhood experiences
[00:14:28] Curiosity and the power of asking “what if”
[00:16:02] Assessment change, student motivation, and shifting culture
[00:19:23] Signs of meaningful and joyful classrooms
[00:23:06] Examples of joy and flexibility in learning spaces
[00:27:24] Traits of teachers who connect and grow
[00:32:33] Why joy matters in school leadership
[00:35:13] How kids supported Antonio during grief
[00:38:10] The deep motivation behind opening a school
[00:40:42] Insights from working at the district level
[00:44:34] Need for greater board-office and school connection
[00:47:50] How scale impacts change in large districts
[00:50:18] Three keys to successful district implementations
[00:55:39] Incentives, relationships, and making change stick
[01:01:21] Personalization and flourishing: the future of education
[01:06:42] Magic wand: hiring with intention
[01:09:32] Flourish by Martin Seligman and other recommendations