Distance learning brought new and complex challenges to the Lincoln High School principal. While in the beginning the focus was on preserving traditions like graduation for the Class of 2020, now the spotlight is on virtual learning.
“I’m focused on getting clear about my vision for quality teaching and learning in the virtual space,” Brown said. “Not only has the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to figure out how to run a school online, but the racial reckoning has put a spotlight on how educators play a part in perpetuating the disproportionality of African American achievement data, graduation rates, and discipline outcomes.”
Brown said the values she holds true in tough situations are “courage, vision, authenticity, compassion, and trust,” and those all came into play early on in the pandemic when she and her team worked to create a graduation video for seniors.
They watched and edited thousands of student videos together working diligently to get the details just right. It finally went live right before their deadline. “I remember feeling like I was going to have a heart attack from the stress of it all,” Brown shared.
The graduation video project affirmed what she already knew about leadership: “All great work starts with a strong vision, a team who believes in the vision, a sense of urgency, strong communication, accountability for results, reflection, and celebration,” she said.
Now at the start of the 2020-21 school year, Brown said the school’s 9th Grade Success Team is a bright spot, working to ensure Lincoln High School freshman are on track for their own high school graduation and post-secondary opportunities.
Another positive to come out of the pandemic for Brown has been a book club with five other female principals.
“We meet every Wednesday evening to talk shop, laugh, chat about the book we are reading, laugh, cry, and laugh,” she shared. “These are women whom I did not know very well pre-COVID-19, but who I now consider sisters.”
Brown is a native San Diegan and attended schools in San Diego Unified. She’s worked as a math and special education teacher, led the transformation of Montgomery Middle School into a STEAM magnet school, and was a vice principal at Dana Middle School.
