Since 2010, David Gundale has been a leader at Open World Learning (OWL) Community, previously as the school’s program coordinator and assistant principal. He has served as the school’s principal since 2014.

Gundale has worked toward making OWL a top EL Education school. His top priorities include adding more emphasis on the expeditionary model, as well as a large focus on literacy, writing, math and high-quality student work.

“I am inspired daily by the immense effort and dedication of our staff and students and I’m grateful to continue the work that we have begun together as a community,” he said.

Explaining the EL Education model to people outside the OWL school community is a constant challenge, Gundale says. For example, many think the EL Education model is about outdoor adventure trips, he explains.

Although EL Education emerged out of Outward Bound in the early 1980s, it is much more focused on individual character and community development through academics across school subjects and a focus on students to demonstrate what they’ve learned.

“I am most excited to be able to spend more time working closely with our teaching staff around expedition planning, instructional protocols and examining student work,” Gundale said.

In 2014, OWL moved to its new home this fall in the former Humboldt Middle School building on the West Side of Saint Paul. This site was designed with OWL's EL Education's model in mind.

“The physical environment has enhanced our program and brings a richness to our culture,” Gundale said. “It has been exciting to see how OWL students and staff have made this space come alive.”

Gundale plans to encourage a collaborative learning environment for staff and students − a place where taking risks and failing are a part of finding successes.

When not at OWL, Gundale finds pleasure and relaxation through outdoor activities such as running and hiking as well as remodeling old homes (his own, primarily).

Posted 08/06/14