Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Gettemeier.
Hi Ed, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
According to Leadership guru John Maxwell, “Leadership is Influence.” Another Leadership Titan, Steven Covey, described leadership as “one’s ability to communicate to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.” Leadership matters more today than ever before. We are at a crossroads regarding how we influence one another and how that influence will guide our pathways into the future. The lessons I have learned from very different leadership styles have shaped who I am today. The following is my story.
I was raised in West St. Louis County across from Holy Infant Catholic Church, where I quickly learned discipline from the Irish Sisters of Mercy while attending Holy Infant grade school. The Sisters’ “tough love” and my father’s firm hand ensured my siblings and I understood the value of following the rules. On the other hand, my mother was the nurturer and relationship builder who balanced our family dynamic. Being the second oldest of seven children in that environment taught me more than I could have imagined. The importance of family and the intentionality behind building extended families through friendships and relationships is a priority I carry with me today.
Coaches revealed a lot about leadership throughout my years in competitive sports. In addition to the power of seeking out meaningful relationships, I quickly learned the value of hard work, the benefits of working with a team, and the importance of leading with heart, passion, and empathy. Coaches influenced my journey from grade school through high school and then into college, where I was blessed to earn a soccer scholarship to play for Southern Illinois at Edwardsville Cougars (an NCAA powerhouse). My journey into and throughout high school, college, and professional sports took work. While I experienced significant success in each arena, the failures were consistent and often, extremely painful. Several amazing coaches helped me overcome my insecurities and gave me the confidence to keep working for my dreams. My coaches were role models who influenced me and helped me see my worth and potential. I was blessed to be a part of teams winning an NCAA Division 1 National Championship, 2 United States Soccer Federation Amateur Cup Championships, and ultimately a Professional Soccer Bowl Championship with the Chicago Sting. I attribute my success to several mentors, coaches, and teachers throughout my life, and after several years in professional soccer, I felt called to pursue a second career in education.
Once my soccer career ended, coaching and teaching were a natural fit for me. I landed my first and only PE teaching/coaching job in the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Coaching middle school students in PE while serving as a high school soccer coach for two different high schools in the district was a dream job. While I considered myself a leader as an athlete I experienced a whole new level of leadership when teaching middle school students and coaching high schoolers. My experience was challenging, frustrating, entertaining, and unique. My love for my students, players, and colleagues was extraordinary. While experiencing what I regularly called “the best job on earth,” I felt I needed to expand my influence by moving into school administration.
Serving as a school administrator can test one’s leadership abilities every hour of every day. There were daily challenges, whether serving as an Assistant Principal focused on discipline or a Building Principal working on culture, climate, and academics. The skill sets necessary to navigate these extraordinary hurdles were many. Some of the most outstanding leaders I have ever met served in school leadership roles. The art of balancing complex student issues and supporting staff/teachers, all while serving as the face of the building, is a skill that must be developed and nurtured.
I completed 25 years in public education in total. For the final 20 years, I served in school administration. Two of my top five core values are growth and legacy. Serving as a volunteer on the Executive Board of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MoASSP) for the final 8 years of my administrative career introduced me to the power of connection. The lifelong friendships from the collective wisdom of many outstanding educators made me want more; I didn’t know how that “more” would play out. This experience inspired me to seek a new challenge, share what I had learned, and help communicate the worth and potential to of other school officials/administrators “so clearly that they could see it in themselves.” I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to share what I have learned throughout my experiences in the form of Leadership Development.
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
Commonly, all journeys include challenges, and how we respond to that adversity defines who we ultimately become. My experience on various sports teams taught me the value of outstanding leadership and the potential destruction poor leaders can cause. In my first year in high school, I experienced my first real disappointment regarding my goal to play soccer at a high level. Kennedy High School was a relatively small Catholic High School. I chose to attend Kennedy because there was no soccer program at the public high school in my community. When I tried out for the varsity team, I was cut due to an upperclassman in my desired position of goalkeeper. I had a choice to transfer to the public high school which was starting a new soccer program. However, due to the eligibility rules at the time, I would be forced to sit out the following year. I chose to stay at Kennedy and play for a lower-level team. Fortunately, I enjoyed my final three years as the starting goalkeeper for the high school and ultimately earned a college scholarship to play soccer. During my first year in college, I experienced a similar setback: the coaches believed I needed another year to develop, thus “redshirting” me, causing me to sit out my first year. While it was difficult, I took the opportunity to learn and improve. The hard work paid off the following year when our team won the Division 1 National Championship, and I had the honor of playing in that historic game. The same adversity followed me to my rookie season as a professional soccer player. Sitting on the bench and being told I would be sent home when the team could secure another goalkeeper only fueled my passion and desire to “prove others wrong.” When the coach had no choice but to play me due to the starting keepers’ injuries, I earned my place on that team, ultimately finishing with an MVP award at the end of that season. The lessons learned through sports helped influence my desire to intentionally work at being a positive role model to all I was blessed with the opportunity to serve.
Thanks for sharing that. Could you tell us more about your business?
Dr. Gettemeier and Associates LLC began business as Leadership Matters in 2021. Not long after I stepped away from my role as Principal, I enrolled in a Leadership Development Certification Program led by The John Maxwell Company. Upon completing the program, I received a call from an old friend, Gig Brzycki, who was the school photographer for the building I led. Gig said he saw my name in a Maxwell publication congratulating me on my Leadership Certification. He shared that he had completed the same program and asked if I would like to meet for breakfast. We met and instantly clicked. Gig was leading workshops for a large local school district and asked If I would like to join him. I did, and now, three years later, we are blessed to have joined forces serving that same large district and several others.
Gig and I serve as Education Leadership Specialists using research-based resources, tools, and strategies to help districts transform district leaders, administrators, and staff systematically. We are certified DISC trainers. The DISC Personality System published by the Institute of Motivational Living (IML) aims to help individuals identify their strengths and capitalize on their talents to make them more effective. In identifying one’s and others’ innate abilities, attributes, weaknesses, and fears, the DISC helps people communicate better and work together more effectively. Our DISC workshops are the foundation of our training programs. We have found tremendous power in creating an environment where colleagues get to know themselves better and then learn about each other from a personality style perspective. The increased awareness and ultimate communication channels opened through this process are truly amazing. Our company, Leadership Matters, has been a labor of love and commitment to educational institutions around St. Louis and beyond. Feedback from participants (examples below) continues to inspire us to stay the course on our mission to add value to educators in Missouri.
- “Thank you all for everything you have provided for us. I am always excited to attend and feel like a better person and leader. We are so fortunate to receive this training and have the opportunity to have these discussions with other great leaders and people in similar roles. I have learned more from these sessions than I do in my college classes. Thank you for investing in us and making us better leaders. It makes me feel valued.”
- “I loved this! I learned about my leadership style, how to communicate more effectively, what leadership is (and is not), the power of mindset, and much more. I cannot imagine how this year would have gone without having this training and support. It was perfect timing for a challenging year. Thank you!”
- “I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity. This group has gifted me strong relationships founded on shared experience and values. As a newcomer to the district, I knew no one when I arrived. This has been an invaluable part of my first year, helping me learn more about our district, form connections with my fellow administrators, and carve out time to slow down, reflect, and celebrate. While the learning has been meaningful and applicable to my daily practice, the community you created in our group is priceless! Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)” l feel valued. “
Two of my top 5 Core Values are Legacy and Growth. I am blessed to have this opportunity to serve others through this mission. If you or anyone you know might be interested in Leadership Development, you can reach us via my website, dredgettemeier.com
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in a neighborhood with dozens of kids to play with. At the center of our neighborhood was a Catholic Church and School. The field adjacent to the school was our gathering place. One kid would show up, then a few more would join, and soon, there was a crowd. I remember one of the dads, Mr. Schroeder, who would emerge out of the house next to the field with his ball glove and bats. “Let’s divide up and play ball,” he would shout. All of us kids would scream excitedly, and with Mr. Schroeder as the “all-time pitcher,” we would play for hours. The score never mattered. We just played and cheered for great hits and plays on the field. It was a magical time when friendships were formed that remain half a century later. I owe my neighborhood friends a great debt of gratitude for instilling a passion for sports and teams.
Contact Info:
- Website: dredgettemeier.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-gettemeier/
