Gary Gula

Home About Me   Search   About Me Personal Name:   Gary Gula Birthday:       November 2, 1952 School: Canton High School Hobbies:        Gardening, Photography, Cycling, & Kayaking Email:          ggula@cantonschools.org Favorites Book:   The World According to Garp A bit more about me I have been married for more than 36 years and have three children - Meghan, Bill, and Andrew.  Deb and I taught in Australia for two years, 1974 - 1976, and spent six months traveling through Asia and Europe before returning to the United States.  When traveling, we fell in love with Afghanstan and had hoped we could return some day.     Gary Gula                  EDUCATION Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Summer Institute on Leadership: An Evolving Vision, 2000 Administrative Certification (092), Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, 1989 C.A.S., Instructional Computer Science, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, 1985 M.S., Counselor Education, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 1979 B.A., Mathematics Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 1974 EXPERIENCE 2003 – Present          Principal, Canton High School, Canton, CT Responsible for teacher and staff evaluations & 504 program; develop and monitor school budget; work with department chairs to establish  school goals and continuous improvement plans, organize professional development activities, and monitor student achievement; prepare informational and proposal packets for superintendent and BOE, including analysis of test results for CAPT, SAT, & AP; chair the World Languages department; serve as a member of the school’s NEASC Steering Committee and Quality Council; interview and recommend candidates for hire; meet with High School Parent Council and work with student groups; administrative liaison for the athletic, music, social studies, math, science, and library departments; liaison to sister-school in Jining, China and coordinator of student trips to China. 1995 – 2003             Principal, Canton Junior/Senior High School, Canton, CT         Most of the responsibilities listed above in addition to CMT reports. 1988 – 1995     Dean of Students, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT Responsibilities included teacher and staff evaluations, discipline, and student activities; supervised select departments; interviewed & recommended candidates for hire; served on district professional development committee, student assistance and pupil study teams; and chaired NEAS&C Leadership and Organization study committee. 1977 – 1987     Math & Computer Teacher, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT Taught a variety of math courses ranging from Basic Algebra to Analysis in addition to BASIC and Pascal computer programming; developed curriculum projects, including Pascal Course; served as cable TV host for extra help in math; held positions of class advisor, activity director, and bookkeeper of WHS Activities Fund. 1976 – 1977     Math & Science Teacher, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT         Taught math and science in a modified/special education program. 1974 – 1976     Math & Science Teacher, Broadmeadows Technical School                      Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia         Taught 7th, 8th, and 11th grade mathematics; taught 7th and 8th grade science; served         as coordinator for 8th grade math curriculum. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Curricular/Instructional: Featured in The Hartford Courant as a high performing school on the 2008 CAPT test; ranked in the top 10 of CT  schools on three of the four CAPT subtests Named as one of the top 1,000 schools in the United States in 2009 by US News & World Report Facilitated the development and implementation of 20 new courses, including five advanced placement courses, photography, personal finance, integrated science, senior project, social studies electives, and computer graphics/animation Worked with department chair to reorganize English 12 from a year-long study of British Literature to a semester elective program Created a 504/At-Risk tutor program for high school students Helped establish an alternative school, Canton Academy, for 11th and 12 graders Created an advisory program for all students Helped implement and monitor data teams Trained department chairs in the Classroom Walk-Through process Organized faculty into seven action research groups to address NEAS&C recommendations and to improve teaching and learning Worked with Quality Council to eliminate class rank and to increase graduation requirements from 22 to 24 credits Distributed 20 laptops to teachers, expanded the number of computer labs, and purchased a mobile computer lab. Helped create an student exchange program with a school in Saltillo, Mexico Created a sister-school relationship with a middle school in Jining, China; hosted Chinese students and educators from Jining and sent two student delegations to China Instituted teaming in grades 7 & 8 Eliminated general English classes in grades 7 & 8 Created a summer school program for middle school students Managerial/Miscellaneous Worked extensively on the building/renovation project Expanded participation in Program Choice from eight to 27 students Formed a high school parent council Changed the bell schedule three times to better meet the needs of students Worked with department chairs to enhance the school profile Reconfigured the use of space to include an air-conditioned choral room, a conference room, full-size rooms for special education/consultative classes, a darkroom, a computer lab, a weight room, and a CHS TV studio. Reorganized graduation and awards assemblies Converted junior high leadership position from a part-time dean of students to a full-time assistant principal and then to middle school principal Professional Activities Commission  member of New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), 2002- 2008 Member of NEASC visiting committees (1992,1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, & 2004); served as co-chair in 2000 & 2001; served as chair in 2002 & 2004 – 2009; facilitated group work at summer conference for chairs Trained to lead an accreditation team (CAISA) for overseas schools (2009) Served on an CAISA accreditation team to the Dominican Republic, 2010 Mentored six administrator aspirants in The University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP); two are currently high school principals, one is a high school assistant principal, one is  an elementary school assistant principal, one is waiting for a leadership position in his content field, and one is still in the process of completing the program Held leadership positions in North Central CT Conference (NCCC) of principals: secretary in 1999 and president in 2002 and 2009 Member of CT Association of Schools (CAS) Technology Committee, 2002- 2006, CT Scholar Committee, 2007-present Participated in the CAS Aspirant Leadership Conference (2003) as a panelist COMMENDATIONS Rotary Club Recognition for Liaison Activities, 1993 Clarkson University Award for Inspirational High School Teaching, 1990 Wilton High School Yearbook Dedications, 1986 & 1988 First runner-up, Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, 1987 Top of Page