{"id":20811,"date":"2026-10-22T14:44:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=20811"},"modified":"2026-10-22T14:44:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:44:02","slug":"a-wilmu-graduates-mission-to-build-joyful-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/22\/a-wilmu-graduates-mission-to-build-joyful-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"A WilmU Graduate\u2019s Mission to Build Joyful Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column20811_6401e0-bf\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dr. Salome Thomas-El <\/strong>has spent nearly four decades proving that school leadership begins with relationships. Known nationally as \u201cPrincipal El,\u201d the Wilmington educator, speaker, author and Wilmington University graduate has built a career around a simple but powerful belief: Every child needs someone \u201ccrazy about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That philosophy is also at the heart of his newest book, \u201cMeet Their Needs, and They\u2019ll Succeed,\u201d released earlier this year. The book, his sixth, continues a message that has defined Dr. Thomas-El\u2019s work as a teacher, principal and mentor: Joyful schools are built when educators and leaders intentionally cultivate strong, caring connections with students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Thomas-El\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He often credits teachers with changing the course of his life. Because his mother didn\u2019t drive, teachers helped get him to and from college each year \u2014 a gesture he remembers not only as practical support, but as proof that they believed in him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201ccouldn\u2019t jump over a credit card,\u201d adding, \u201cI turned that humor into motivation, and while I couldn\u2019t make the NBA, I could earn an MBA \u2014 and much more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His educational journey led him to Wilmington University, where he pursued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/educational-leadership-doctorate.aspx\">doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Thomas-El says chess teaches children \u2014 especially those facing difficult circumstances \u2014 how to recover from mistakes, think strategically, and believe they can compete on any stage. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201c4Cs of School Success\u201d: 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He has appeared on Good Morning America, NPR, CNN, C-SPAN and Oprah Radio, and his book \u201cI Choose to Stay\u201d was optioned for film by Disney. Yet despite the national profile, his message remains personal and practical. He doesn\u2019t speak in abstractions; it\u2019s about lived experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, his career stands as a reminder that the most effective educational leadership is not only about policy, programs or performance. It\u2019s about belief \u2014 belief in children, in teachers, and in the power of joy and human connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2014Bob Yearick<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_056c48-40 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:273px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{max-width:273px;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{-webkit-flex:0 1 100%;flex:0 1 100%;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 img{width:100%;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18054_2c3578-23 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png\" alt=\"Wilmington University Logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-20626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-250x75.png 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-768x230.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_182255-65 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/category\/magazine\/\">magazine articles<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Salome Thomas-El has spent nearly four decades proving that school leadership begins with relationships. Known nationally as \u201cPrincipal El,\u201d the Wilmington educator, speaker, author&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20816,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[187,1090,14,15],"class_list":["post-20811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","tag-college-of-education-and-liberal-arts","tag-magazine-fall-2026","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":135,"label":"MAGAZINE"}],"post_tag":[{"value":187,"label":"College of Education and Liberal Arts"},{"value":1090,"label":"Magazine Fall 2026"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/dr-salome-thomas-el-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":135,"name":"MAGAZINE","slug":"magazine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":692,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":457,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":135,"category_count":457,"category_description":"","cat_name":"MAGAZINE","category_nicename":"magazine","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":187,"name":"College of Education and Liberal Arts","slug":"college-of-education-and-liberal-arts","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":744,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":26,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1090,"name":"Magazine Fall 2026","slug":"magazine-fall-2026","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1647,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":423,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20811"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20815,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20811\/revisions\/20815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}