Dr. Salome Thomas-EL lives in Pennsylvania with his family and has been a teacher and principal since 1987. He is currently a K-8 principal in Wilmington, DE and received national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School in Philadelphia, where his students have gone on to win world recognition as Eight-Time National Chess Champions. Principal EL is the author of the best-selling books, I Choose to Stay (Movie rights optioned by Disney Films), and The Immortality of Influence, which stresses the importance of leadership, mentoring, parenting and service to others. He is also the co-author of 3 books on leadership and teacher retention. Dr. EL’s newest book, “Meet Their Needs, and They’ll Succeed (ASCD), was released in 2025. He speaks to groups around the country and appeared on C-SPAN, CNN, and NPR Radio. Principal EL has studied school leadership abroad in England and at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He holds a doctorate in Education Leadership from Wilmington University in Delaware. He has received the Marcus A. Foster Award as the outstanding School District Administrator in Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania’s distinguished Martin Luther King Award. Reader’s Digest Magazine recognized Principal EL as an “Inspiring American Icon.” Dr. EL was featured on Good Morning America and appeared on the Oprah Radio Network. Servant Leadership in a Village What if the greatest lessons students learn in school aren't found in a textbook—but across a chessboard? In this episode of the Proud Principals Podcast, Tony Cattani sits down with Dr. Salome Thomas- EL (Principal El), a dynamic school leader from Delaware, to talk about one of his proudest accomplishments: leading his students to become 8-time National Chess Champions. But this conversation isn't really about chess. It's about self-regulation, resilience, perseverance, and learning how to respond when you don't win. Principal EL shares how chess became a powerful vehicle for developing students' minds while exposing them to opportunities and experiences that extended far beyond the game, and even beyond high school. Students learned how to think strategically, manage emotions, handle setbacks, and keep moving forward. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How an 8-time national championship chess program became a vehicle for student development. Why losing can be one of the most powerful learning experiences students encounter. How chess develops self-regulation, resilience, strategic thinking, and perseverance. Why exposing students to experiences beyond the traditional classroom can change their trajectory. How the lessons students learned through chess continued to benefit them beyond high school. Why extracurricular opportunities can become powerful engines for equity, engagement, and student success. The 4 C's of Principal EL's Leadership Throughout the conversation, Principal EL shares the four principles that guide his leadership: Crazy About Kids Everything begins with an authentic commitment to students. Curious Great leaders remain learners. They ask questions, explore possibilities, and refuse to become comfortable with the status quo. Culture of Love Students and adults need to know they are valued, supported, and cared for. Consistent Adults Students thrive when the adults around them show up consistently, build relationships, and provide stability. Memorable Takeaway Principal EL's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful learning happens when we give students opportunities to struggle, think, compete, lose, recover, and try again. Eight national championships are impressive. But the real victory is what those experiences helped students become.
