Dear Brown School Family,

I am thrilled to be your principal at the J. Graham Brown School, and I'm deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of your students. Working with young people and their families for the past 24 years has been an exciting journey, and I'm honored to lead a dynamic school community where teachers and staff cultivate an atmosphere of achievement and self-belief for our students. I am inspired by the positive impact our school has on our students and their families, and I'm committed to making sure that we continue to foster a culture of excellence.

This is my ninth year as principal at Brown and my 16th year as a member of the Brown School family. (I previously served as the assistant principal.) Two of the biggest thrills of my life were handing my own sons their diplomas from our school. Chandler graduated in 2015, earned his degree from Murray State University, and is now a JCPS teacher. Caleb graduated in 2021 and is currently a third-year engineering student at the University of Kentucky. I am so proud of my Brown School alumni!

As an instructional leader, I am passionate about building a positive school culture where shared leadership and decision-making are valued, while still honoring the legacy and spirit of Brown's history. My leadership purpose is to inspire and empower self-directed learners and leaders! I believe that all students can learn and perform at high levels when given an effective, nurturing learning environment; teachers are provided equitable resources and support systems; and parents are embraced as school community members.

At Brown School, our focus on Self-Directed Learning is two-fold. First, we provide an academically rigorous curriculum where students are expected to perform at a level that may seem beyond their limits. However, we do so in an environment where it's okay to not be perfect the first time you try something. Sometimes, students are afraid to take risks for fear of failure; we teach them that learning happens through perseverance, self-responsibility, collaborative feedback, and work ethic. Secondly, we understand that ultimately we want all our students to contribute to the greater good. For that reason, our value system is based on a culture of tolerance, compassion, and mutual respect. As a magnet school, our academic program is driven by four themes: Independence, Empathy, Initiative, and Innovation. We aspire to provide a school culture where all our students see themselves and their own cultures in our curriculum and practices. Graduates of the J. Graham Brown School are college-bound young people who will go on to make a positive impact on our global society. Our hope is that all Brown School students forge "reasoned minds and educated hearts" of self-directed lifelong learners.

Our academic performance is impressive, and all three levels of our school are consistently ranked among the top schools in our district, state, and nation. I am proud to say that we have been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a gold and silver level school numerous times. Each year, we produce a high percentage of Governor's Scholars, and participants in both the Governor's School for the Arts and Governor's School for Entrepreneurs. We have National Merit Semi-Finalists and Finalists. Our students place at the state level in academic competitions, attend the Gatton Academy and the Craft Academy, and work in cooperative education positions throughout our city. Brown School students consistently win state and national level writing and visual art contests, and earn distinguished ratings for their musical performances. Our high school students enroll in dual-credit courses at several local colleges and universities, and our middle school students start their high school transcripts in the 7th grade. Athletically, we bring home trophies and regional/state titles in several sports and have student athletes each year go on to compete at the collegiate level. However, our greatest strength lies in the Brown School's unique culture, which makes it possible for students to feel welcomed and valued as members of our school family.

I embrace the challenges of the future while continuing to cherish and celebrate the traditions of the past. Our remarkable staff, involved parents, and committed students come together to make the J. Graham Brown School a wonderful and unique place. I am looking forward to working with all Brown School family members as we advance through an academically successful school year.

With love and excitement,

Dr. Angela