A Day in the Life of an Academic Dean

Category: Home, News

Interview with Jeremy Shedlosky, AF Hartford Academy Elementary

Why did you choose Achievement First?
The people. There are a lot of place where I could do similar work but I get to collaborate and be challenged by the most intelligent, most passionate, and most downright hilarious people in the business at Achievement First. I couldn’t imagine doing this work anywhere else.

What did you wish you knew when you started at AF?
Where it would take me.  It’s taken me from Brooklyn to Hartford (and back on several occasions).  My wife, Stephanie, and I met so many great friends through AF and are making more each day.  It’s been truly life changing.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I get to learn and grow in my practice every day as I work to help other people do the same. I teach different groups throughout the week and I am still working at doing it better and better. Then I get to engage with teachers about their own learning and development for their students.                                                          

What is your favorite hobby?
Stephanie and I enjoy traveling in our spare time. We’ve already booked our spring break trip to Jamaica and are in the process of planning our summer trip to Germany and Austria.                                   

What superpower do you wish you had?
As a comic book junkie I take this question very seriously and after years of contemplation, I feel pretty confident in my answer. Telekinesis is by far the greatest super power. The ability to move objects with your mind trumps every other. You can levitate yourself and fly, bend light to become invisible, create electricity and fire with just a thought, and the possibilities are endless. The only thing missing would be to have a tail but that’s just silly, right?

What have you learned in this role?
That’s a tough question. I feel like if you were to ask me tomorrow I might have a different answer because I learn something new each day. Today, it’s about balancing the importance of sticking to your original plan and seeing it through versus making necessary and swift changes to get to your goal.