Dr. Salome Thomas-El has spent nearly four decades proving that school leadership begins with relationships. Known nationally as “Principal El,” the Wilmington educator, speaker, author and Wilmington University graduate has built a career around a simple but powerful belief: Every child needs someone “crazy about them.”
That philosophy is also at the heart of his newest book, “Meet Their Needs, and They’ll Succeed,” released earlier this year. The book, his sixth, continues a message that has defined Dr. Thomas-El’s work as a teacher, principal and mentor: Joyful schools are built when educators and leaders intentionally cultivate strong, caring connections with students.
Dr. Thomas-El’s path to leadership was shaped by the educators and family members who saw his potential early and helped him imagine a future beyond the limits others might have placed on him. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he was the second youngest of eight siblings and was raised by a mother whose determination left a lasting impression.
He often credits teachers with changing the course of his life. Because his mother didn’t drive, teachers helped get him to and from college each year — a gesture he remembers not only as practical support, but as proof that they believed in him.
He attended East Stroudsburg University, in part because he wanted to experience a world beyond the city where he grew up. He jokes that his dream of playing professional basketball ended when teachers told him he “couldn’t jump over a credit card,” adding, “I turned that humor into motivation, and while I couldn’t make the NBA, I could earn an MBA — and much more.”
His educational journey led him to Wilmington University, where he pursued a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration. Dr. Thomas-El chose WilmU because of its strong reputation among education leaders he respected. Just as important, he says, the University supported working adults with families. As a working parent of two young daughters at the time, flexibility mattered.
His years at WilmU, from 2016 to 2019, left a lasting impression. He describes the experience as transformational, citing outstanding professors, a diverse student body, and a culture that broadened his thinking.
Dr. Thomas-El began his career in education in 1987. Since 2010, he has led Thomas Edison Charter School in Wilmington, where chess became a tool for teaching strategy, resilience and possibility. Under his leadership, the students captured national attention. In 2014, four students tied for first place at the Elementary Chess Championship in Dallas, competing against hundreds of teams and thousands of students from across the country. In 2016, the school won its second national chess title in three years at the Junior High National Chess Championship in Indianapolis.
Dr. Thomas-El says chess teaches children — especially those facing difficult circumstances — how to recover from mistakes, think strategically, and believe they can compete on any stage.
That same idea runs through his year-round speaking engagements. A nationally recognized presenter who has addressed more than 100,000 educators, Dr. Thomas-El speaks about school culture, resilience and educator retention. His keynotes often center on what he calls the “4Cs of School Success”: being crazy about students, curious about their lives outside school, consistent as adults in their lives, and committed to creating a culture grounded in joy, love and resilience.
He has appeared on Good Morning America, NPR, CNN, C-SPAN and Oprah Radio, and his book “I Choose to Stay” was optioned for film by Disney. Yet despite the national profile, his message remains personal and practical. He doesn’t speak in abstractions; it’s about lived experience.
Today, his career stands as a reminder that the most effective educational leadership is not only about policy, programs or performance. It’s about belief — belief in children, in teachers, and in the power of joy and human connection.
—Bob Yearick
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
Dr. Salome Thomas-El has spent nearly four decades proving that school leadership begins with relationships. Known nationally as “Principal El,” the Wilmington educator, speaker, author and Wilmington University graduate has built a career around a simple but powerful belief: Every child needs someone “crazy about them.”
That philosophy is also at the heart of his newest book, “Meet Their Needs, and They’ll Succeed,” released earlier this year. The book, his sixth, continues a message that has defined Dr. Thomas-El’s work as a teacher, principal and mentor: Joyful schools are built when educators and leaders intentionally cultivate strong, caring connections with students.
Dr. Thomas-El’s path to leadership was shaped by the educators and family members who saw his potential early and helped him imagine a future beyond the limits others might have placed on him. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he was the second youngest of eight siblings and was raised by a mother whose determination left a lasting impression.
He often credits teachers with changing the course of his life. Because his mother didn’t drive, teachers helped get him to and from college each year — a gesture he remembers not only as practical support, but as proof that they believed in him.
He attended East Stroudsburg University, in part because he wanted to experience a world beyond the city where he grew up. He jokes that his dream of playing professional basketball ended when teachers told him he “couldn’t jump over a credit card,” adding, “I turned that humor into motivation, and while I couldn’t make the NBA, I could earn an MBA — and much more.”
His educational journey led him to Wilmington University, where he pursued a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration. Dr. Thomas-El chose WilmU because of its strong reputation among education leaders he respected. Just as important, he says, the University supported working adults with families. As a working parent of two young daughters at the time, flexibility mattered.
His years at WilmU, from 2016 to 2019, left a lasting impression. He describes the experience as transformational, citing outstanding professors, a diverse student body, and a culture that broadened his thinking.
Dr. Thomas-El began his career in education in 1987. Since 2010, he has led Thomas Edison Charter School in Wilmington, where chess became a tool for teaching strategy, resilience and possibility. Under his leadership, the students captured national attention. In 2014, four students tied for first place at the Elementary Chess Championship in Dallas, competing against hundreds of teams and thousands of students from across the country. In 2016, the school won its second national chess title in three years at the Junior High National Chess Championship in Indianapolis.
Dr. Thomas-El says chess teaches children — especially those facing difficult circumstances — how to recover from mistakes, think strategically, and believe they can compete on any stage.
That same idea runs through his year-round speaking engagements. A nationally recognized presenter who has addressed more than 100,000 educators, Dr. Thomas-El speaks about school culture, resilience and educator retention. His keynotes often center on what he calls the “4Cs of School Success”: being crazy about students, curious about their lives outside school, consistent as adults in their lives, and committed to creating a culture grounded in joy, love and resilience.
He has appeared on Good Morning America, NPR, CNN, C-SPAN and Oprah Radio, and his book “I Choose to Stay” was optioned for film by Disney. Yet despite the national profile, his message remains personal and practical. He doesn’t speak in abstractions; it’s about lived experience.
Today, his career stands as a reminder that the most effective educational leadership is not only about policy, programs or performance. It’s about belief — belief in children, in teachers, and in the power of joy and human connection.
—Bob Yearick
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
