Alumni Spotlight: David Palank

Class of 2014

Degree:

Current Role:

What made you want to be a teacher and school administrator?

My mother was a teacher, so I always thought about becoming one from a young age. In high school, I was involved in football and decided to be a history teacher and football coach for the rest of my life. Funnily enough, I ended up not doing either of those things. I got my first teaching job at San Miguel School in Columbia Heights, a small Catholic middle school founded by the Lasallian order, which was established to help children from underprivileged communities prepare for high school and beyond. For the first few years, I taught English, math, social studies and science. I wanted to teach at San Miguel for two or three years and then move on to a position at a high school. But 18 years later, I am the school’s President and biggest cheerleader. I never thought I would stay at one school for so long, but I really fell in love with San Miguel’s mission and vision and it has been such a blessing for me personally and professionally.

Why did you choose to continue your education at Marymount?

In my fifth year of teaching at San Miguel, I wanted to enter school administration. I chose Marymount’s M.Ed. in Education Administration program, which Sister Patricia Earl ran at the time, because I wanted to learn the nuances of leadership in Catholic education. It was an excellent experience that gave me a solid foundation in understanding what it takes to be a successful school leader. It was a hybrid program, so many of the courses were online, but the best part of the whole program was spending two weeks every summer on campus, face to face with the instructors who were current or former leaders of Catholic schools. As actual school leaders, they weren’t just giving us theory—they were teaching from their real-life experiences, which was incredibly valuable. They shared so much that I still carry and try to implement today.

What makes San Miguel so special?

San Miguel is an independent, Catholic, Lasallian, tuition-free middle school for boys from underserved communities. It’s more than just a school—for many of our students, it’s a beacon of hope, as most come in at a disadvantage. For 89 percent of them, English is their first language and they are about two or three grade levels behind in math and reading. All our students are accepted into area Catholic or independent high schools by graduation, often with significant scholarships and aid. We have a 100 percent high school graduation rate and a 100 percent college graduation rate thanks to our graduate student support program, which assists students from the time they enroll through the rest of their lives. We make sure that not only do students get educated while they’re here, but we also follow them through high school and college and beyond to make sure we’re supporting them throughout their lives. It’s amazing to see alumni return and tell us how San Miguel changed their lives. The school is really like a family, because we don’t just teach our students—we walk with them and transform their lives. That’s why I’ve been at San Miguel for so long—I got hooked on the mission and have had the chance to be a part of it. I genuinely believe there is no other school like San Miguel, and I’m so lucky to be able to impact so many students.

What are you most proud of implementing at San Miguel?

When I became Principal in 2013, I worked with our President on an expansion plan. We doubled the school’s size, taking it from about 45 students to 90 students. That was a very exciting time because we weren’t just doubling our student population but also the number of lives we could transform. In my second year as Principal, I decided to restructure the school day to integrate faith into the classroom better. Our school day begins with a “Miguel Class,” which is first and foremost a religion class and an organizational and character development period. We teach the students why we are all there—to serve God through our work. That helps set the tone of the day and propel the students forward with a good attitude. It has been such a tremendous honor to be a part of the school’s transformation and the lives of these students, and I am excited for more transformation in the future.

What are your plans for San Miguel’s future?

We moved into our current building in 2009, a big upgrade from the Episcopal church basement where the school started. As we expand and take on more students, we need more space to allow our students to thrive. My dream is to eventually purchase a new building so that we can provide our students with three big things—an athletic facility, an art studio and science labs. Our cafeteria is just a big all-purpose room that serves as our science lab, auditorium and chapel. Still, we would love to create dedicated spaces to help our students thrive in their given activities. I’d also love to build a chapel to celebrate our Catholic identity and serve our students even more spiritually.

What is your advice to future educators and administrators?

Make sure you find a place where you can make an impact, where you love the mission and vision. To be a successful educator or administrator, you need to have that burning desire to help students transform their lives and become better—better people, better citizens, better Christians. When you find a place that magnifies that desire, it magnifies your impact. Those looking to become administrators should become curious about how a school operates. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that even teachers aren’t aware of, and it takes some time and practice to get the hang of it. Talk to administrators about their roles and find ways to practice those skills you will need, whether through a degree program or on-the-job training. When the time comes for you to take on that leadership role, you will be better equipped to help your school and its students thrive.