Episode #143: Servant Leadership…In Gratitude with Chris Quinn

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Chris Quinn is an educational leader who retired after 30 plus years in education serving as a district coordinator and classroom teacher in the London District Catholic School Board in Canada, finishing his last 3 years teaching Kindergarten. Chris showcases educators through his Profiles In Ed Leadership hosted on Twitter and on his web page. He shares resources and inspirational messages on Twitter, offers #QoftheWeek, #WWEd (Wednesday Wellness or Wednesday Wisdom), #FFP (Friday Follow Party) and through his other Twitter @Gratefuledu64. Chris also hosted his own Kinder L.I.G.H.T.S. podcast, where early years educators share their experience and their stories. All of these messages Chris support the sharing of gratitude.

Your WHY

Servant Leadership is my WHY…. this list is all about leading by example.

What it was like where you grew up and for you as a student in Ontario, Canada

I was fairly quiet with a small circle of friends. I had a loving family but we had little money. I was the oldest of 4 boys and we always felt loved. In school, I was that teacher pleaser and strong academically.

[Barbara here: Listen to his story about something that happened to his family and how his principal influenced him when he was in 6th grade.]

Your Family

My wife Lynda (nurse), daughter Andrea (Masters in Architecture, has joined a religious community), daughter Jenna (corporate manager for events planning company, applying to law school). My Mom and Dad are now in their 80s, enjoying life together!

Being a teacher, district leader 

Deeply appreciated the opportunities provided to me throughout my career to learn, lead and grow in collaboration with so many amazing educators…classroom teachers, principals and vice-principals, support staff, senior administrators, and the Ministry of Education personnel.

Classroom Teacher, Program Coordinator (K-12) Literacy, Languages and The Arts, Math coach, Science and Tech Resource Teacher, K-7 classroom teacher (before retiring I served as a Kindergarten teacher for my final 3 years).

Retiring but not…

You can access all of my resources and podcast at my website. 

@gratefuledu64 (my second Twitter handle)

#QoftheWeek #WWEd (Wellness Wednesday Ed) 

#FFEd (Friday Follow and Favourite Fiction)

Profiles in Ed Leadership

Classroom teachers, support staff and administrators are educator leaders in and/or across schools. Every few weeks another one of these leaders has been profiled and celebrated.

Kĭnder L.I.G.H.T.S. Podcast

It’s all about raising the profile of early learning and celebrating wonderful Kindergarten educators, as they share stories of their highs, lows and some of the wild fun in between! You’ll hear unvarnished truths and advice about teaching in Kindergarten learning spaces, shared by educators, who are L.I.G.H.T.S. of hope, joy and love for their students.

Distance Runner

I am a half-marathon runner and running group leader. It’s a passion of mine! 

Running helps to keep me healthy, reduces stress and I am able to build positive and important relationships with wonderful people who share this same passion. 

We run/train together at least 3 times per week, throughout the year, we participate in races and we socialize together.

What’s next? 

I’m planning to travel internationally learning about cultures, and continuing to support educators around the world via social media platforms.

My next venture is a leadership podcast where I am profiling and interviewing leaders who serve in many different roles related to education. I plan to co-host this new podcast with my friend, Melisa Hayes on leadership mainly because there are leaders in all areas in education, in families, in government, and in the community that need to be showcased. It is about people seeing themselves as leaders no matter what role they serve in.  Melisa has so much to share about what it means to be a leader as a teacher. Check out Episode #138 with Melisa Hayes on Engaging Inclusive Environments.

Be faithful to our authentic selves and our WHY.
Be honest, open, willing to take risks, and face new challenges.
Be as courageous as we can with the supports around us.

Contact information

Chris Quinn

Easiest to reach me via Twitter:
@ChrisQuinn64
@gratefuledu64
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/gratefuledu64

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I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Chris Quinn who joined me on my virtual porch!  Chris helped me create this wonderful post that includes his story, podcast, website, quotes, and how you can contact him. Please share this podcast and the post with your friends.

Here is Chris and I walking and sharing stories at ISTE2022 in New Orleans: