Dr. Dario Sforza, Becton’s Principal and Superintendent, starts his very productive day by typically waking up around 4 a.m., or even as early as 3:30 a.m.. Sforza believes this to be, “one of the most important aspects of being a successful leader.” He does this if he wants to add some extra training to his morning routine or simply get a head start on the day, as the saying goes… the early bird gets the worm!
“If you study some of the most successful people that ever lived, which I do, the one thing they have in common is getting up early to read, exercise, and do the things that most should, but aren’t willing to do, before the day of excuses start. It also provides an opportunity for me to focus on myself and ensure my mind and body are healthy so I can continue to give back to my students, teachers and, of course, my wife and kids,” shares Dr. Sforza.
As the principal and superintendent of Becton, there is plenty of excitement in Dr. Sforza’s day. Most of his day is spent at Becton attending extra activities after school whether it be athletics or other extra curriculars, or fulfilling his business obligations as a superintendent which includes attending and hosting committee meetings and preparing, hosting, and attending board meetings. However, when there are free evenings, they are spent eating dinner with family, helping his children with their homework, light reading and/or a family movie. This is followed by getting to bed early so that everyone is recharged and ready to tackle the day again in the morning.
Dr. Sforza’s goal each day is to have continuous improvement, meeting our standards of performance, and staying positive at BRHS. He chooses to focus on the small details while always having an eye on the students’ futures. Whether it is a curriculum enhancement meeting, school pride and culture, community partnerships, upholding our traditions and values, business office functions, teacher and staff evaluations, facility enhancements and sustainability, campus security, and so much more, his goal is to assist our team of stellar staff members in accomplishing their objectives with their best foot forward.
To Dr. Sforza, there is always going to be another goal or level to reach. His goals are ongoing and ever-changing with the evolution of his profession and future workforce but they will always be focused on preparing our wildcats to take pride in their school, community and prepare them for all future endeavors whether it be college, careers, trades, technology, stem, or the honorable decision of enlisting in the US military. He hopes to keep our curriculum, teaching, and resources modern with current industry level standards while preserving our school and nation’s rich history, keeping the students up to date and focusing on new technology. Sforza affirms, “Our students should be exposed to a diverse array of exploratory, enrichment, and advanced experiential learning, courses and experiences in order to meet the demands of a changing world.”
Furthermore, Dr. Sforza always had a passion for education, and that passion gave him opportunities that he made into something remarkable. “Being a teacher has allowed me to start that vision, and transitioning into a transformational educational leader as a superintendent and as a principal has allowed me to capitalize on it and have a greater impact on more student and staff lives in the whole school district “classroom” than just one classroom.”
Being a superintendent and having such high expectations and status could possibly change your image, but in Dr. Sforza’s case, he stays true to himself. “While many things I have to accomplish as a superintendent require serious attention to detail, one of the most important things was to always remain my authentic, real, and true self aligned to my moral virtue and beliefs.” His values are not far off from what the founding members of Becton Regional believed every person should have. Some of these attributes include logic, wisdom, courage and reason.
This job needs lots of time, effort and patience. “Positivity, wisdom, logic, patience, reasoning, empathy, visions, good communication, good listening skills, flexibility, moderation, understanding, and courage,” are all needed to be a good candidate for this position, as he believes.
Becton holds a very special place in Dr. Sforza’s heart. Between the endless changes, upgrades and possibilities, there is just one part that rises about the rest– “One of the best parts of Becton as a whole currently, would be watching how making the positives so loud directly contributes to the important attribute of confidence and pride in our students, which is not only portrayed in the classroom but exemplified by their unwavering enthusiasm and school spirit, academic excellence, and active involvement in all of our many extracurricular activities and athletics.” The power of positive thinking can have an effect on the entire culture of an organization.
As for his favorite part of the day, it is removing barriers for students and staff to be able to accomplish our collective mission. He shares, “One of the many reasons I always strived to reach higher levels of my career was because I have always been confident in my abilities to do what’s best for students, regardless of some of the red tape or barriers that are put up. Our students need advocates at every level of our organization. My role as Superintendent allows me to have my finger on the pulse of every part of my organization so that I can execute a plan that’s best for students, teachers, staff and the greater Regional community, regardless of ability or background.”
On a final note Dr. Sforza shares, “In my ten years here, we have accomplished so much for our students and our community that has made our high school one of the most well-rounded places to teach, learn, grow, and HAVE FUN!”
Thank you Dr. Sforza, for your invaluable leadership, dedication, and all you do for Becton and our community!
