Ursula A. Golladay
Contributing Author's Biography
Ursula A. Golladay, is a founding school Assistant Principal at Edward M. Felegy Elementary School. With fifteen years as an elementary school music teacher and 3 years as an assistant principal, Ursula Golladay brings a wealth of knowledge about educating the whole child through music and arts integration. Ursula Golladay has earned her Bachelor of Science in Choral/Vocal & General Music from the University of Maryland, College Park and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Hood College with endorsements for Administration I & II.
As an educational leader, Ursula has focused on nurturing an instructional program that values learning as a process wherein there will be trials and errors, and that together with peers, teachers, and family every student is expected to explore his or her own sense of self while developing tools to reflect and seek healthy independence. Under
Ursula's leadership, Title I students have gained an understanding of their “whole” self through an arts integrated approach. This approach has provided a foundation for individual development that ultimately undeniably has benefited society and individual citizenship. Mrs Golladay has brought this vision to fruition through grants and co-written/awarded in studies such as Japanese Arts & Music and the study of African American History.
Twenty-first century education embodies an approach to teaching and learning that positively supports schools as communities where all students can learn at high levels because of students’ differences. Under Mrs. Golladay's care, her school is a place that nurtures growth in all members of the community and has taken her current school's volunteerism from 2 or 3 parent volunteers to 45 volunteers. She has provided nights for fingerprinting and worked hard to find ways to involve parents in their children's education. To Mrs. Golladay, effort is rewarded with self-confidence and commitment and is held with the highest regard. Ms. Golladay encourages diversity in her field and in her teachers, having studied and taught in Japan and several places in the diverse Washington DC area.
Ursula excels in setting up school structure and management having co-chaired the MCPS Scheduling Committee and presented documents to the Labor Management Committee. She has also managed the Montgomery County Public Schools(MCPS) Middle School Honors Choruses. In addition to management, Ursula is passionate about developing curriculum and co-written the MCPS Curriculum 2.0 Enduring Understandings for General Music. Rounding out her goals Ursula Golladay currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Feynman School in Bethesda, Maryland a school for children gifted in Science and Math.
On the weekends, you'll find Ursula singing as the lead soprano in a local choir and spending time with her husband and two children which are her heart. Her family keeps her focused on what's important in every part of her life - family and developing children into kind people who contribute globally to the world around us.