TESTIMONIALS - COLLEAGUES
Mr. O’Hanlon is a diligent and conscientious worker. While at our school, he was an active participant in professional development sessions and implemented learned strategies in his classroom. He has an excellent rapport with students, staff and parents. His professionalism was evident in his communication as well as in his tasks. Mr. O’Hanlon engaged his students by making the subject of Government and Economics interesting and relevant. He offered to teach an elective course, Law, and that was well received. Students enrolled into that course last school year and many selected it for this year, as well As a member of our staff, Mr. O’Hanlon was a team player. He arrived early to prepare for his day, offered assistance to his colleagues and worked extra curricular activities. Students and staff held him with high regards.
-Gina Moody, Ed.D, Former Principal, Glasgow High School
Mr. O’Hanlon was an outstanding student in my Supervisory Leadership, Principalship, 9-12, and Curriculum Leadership Classes at Wilmington University. He was in the top 2% of students who have taken my Educational Leadership courses in the past 11 years at Wilmington University. Mr. O’Hanlon was a positive contributor to our discussions on school leadership and turnaround, change in schools, and teacher observations/evaluations. He based his contributions to our discussions on current, research based school leadership practices. In completing the numerous class assignments, Mr. O’Hanlon demonstrated considerable insight into the complex issues surrounding school leadership as well as reflecting on his leadership style. There was never a doubt that he understood the power of collaboration in addressing school issues, the need for and results of high quality classroom lessons, and the power of engaging parents in the school.
-Frank J. Hagen, Education Professor, Wilmington University
Along with his innate abilities, Bill has a strong work ethic. His experiences reflect his leadership.
-Hon. Harriet Smith-Windsor, Ed.D., Former Secretary of State for Gov. Ruth Ann Minner
Mr. O’Hanlon possesses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are required of effective and caring teachers. Through his graduate studies and his teaching experiences he has gained the level of mastery that is required of effective teacher. He has acquired the requisite knowledge of the academic subjects in which he is interested and of the instructional strategies needed to assist students learn. He possesses the professional skills that will make him a cooperative colleague with his teaching peers and an effective collaborator with the parents of his students. He possesses the personal and professional dispositions that make a good person an effective educator. His compassion enables him to engage other sin meaningful and caring ways. His service orientation disposes him to reach out to others, especially to those most in need. His perseverance carries him through challenging and difficult experiences.
-Rev. Philip Lowe, Ed.D.., Professor and Chaplain, Neumann University
Dr. OHanlon, thank you for the leadership, support, guidance, and encouragement. You are a talent and class act and any school that has you as an administrator is privileged to say the least. I dig and respect your style.
-Raul Schmalzbach, Former Brandywine High School Culinary Arts Teacher
Mr. O’Hanlon has been one of those teachers that everywhere I look he is there. He volunteers many hours of his own time working with students after hours in areas that are not under his “purview” where many teachers of his tenure would not even think of doing. Mr. O’Hanlon has gone to sporting events of various students to show that he is there for them and interested in seeing them succeed in everything they do. I quickly realized through his mentoring that you have to show respect to every student when communicating with them. I have learned from him not to talk down to students, model mutual respect, and don’t have double standards. Give what you’d like to get back. Know every child’s story and treat each as an individual. Cater for different learning preferences, strengths and weaknesses. Mr. O’Hanlon practices these above state philosophies every day. It shows with how many students in our high school constantly seek him for mentorship and guidance. I retired from the United States Army holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with over 32 years of military experience and have worked with many different personalities. Mr. O’Hanlon has the “natural” characteristics of a “born leader”. Mr. O’Hanlon is a team player, creative, flexible, likes people, organized, accepts criticism both positive and negatively. Mr. O’Hanlon comes to school every day with enthusiasm, professionalism, interpersonal skills with staff and the community. He has created a student-centered classroom environment where active learning takes place. He has one of the most important skills a teacher should have “classroom management and discipline” because he knows how to cater to each students different learning preferences. His commitment and self-discipline to advance to the highest level shows that makes significant contributions to the school and community. He is motivated and determined to succeed in his profession. He is a team player and put his job, and students before himself everyday he walks into Mount Pleasant. The United States Army has a philosophy “Train to Standard, not Train to Time”. Mr. O’Hanlon practices this every day and it is second nature to him.
-Robert M. Pankiw, Lt. Col. US Army (retired)
