Damico Bartley
Damico Bartley has served for 8 years as the principal at Ross Sterling Middle
school where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and a
profound commitment to literacy instruction and the growth of students in both
reading and writing. He has proven himself to be an inspirational leader, capable
of not only envisioning but also implementing innovative literacy practices to
enhance students' educational experiences. He was the first to pilot and embed a
program that assisted his students reading on lower levels resulting in student
gains that led to district acknowledgement. He further pursues this notion by
embarking on large Hispanic Heritage Festivals and Black History Live Museum
and Plays.
He is not only an advocate of reading and books but also for students seeing
themselves within the pages of those books. Damico uses his campus motto of
Kids First to make his vision a reality putting students’ literacy needs at the
forefront of decision making, aligning resources to the literacy needs of students.
Mr. Bartley possesses a profound understanding of educational trends, best
practices, and the ever-evolving needs of learners. He has successfully
implemented a literacy program built to bridge gaps for struggling readers and
writers. Damico's commitment to literacy instruction inspires his staff, inspiring a
growth mindset, encouraging professional development, and nurturing a culture of
continuous improvement.