What If Your Greatest Gift Is Connecting With Kids

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Welcome to Spotlight for Success with American Book Company. I'm your host, Derek Pentosi, and we're here at Summer Gale in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Here today we have our special guest, Brianne Smith. She is the assistant principal of Danielsville Elementary in Madison County. And we're so grateful to have you here

Why She Came To GALE

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today. So what brings you here to Gale?

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Well, we um honestly as a child, my dad was a principal of a school district, and um we came growing up, and so as a leader, um I wanted to be able to learn and grow from everything that they teach at Gale. Um, but I had a really strong foundation as a child from coming here as a kid.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

So

The Moment Education Chose Her

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perfect. And uh what got you started in education?

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Um, well, I have a family of educators. Like I said, my dad was a principal, my mom was a teacher. Um, I have a lot of aunts and uncles and grandparents that were educators, um, but ultimately I had a teacher who really impacted my life, um, and I wanted to be able to do the same for children. Um, and I knew that God had gifted me with the talent of connecting with children, and so um I just wanted to make an impact on the next generation.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

That's amazing. I love to hear

The Joy Of Kindergarten Growth

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that. Um what is your favorite part of teaching?

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Well, my favorite part of teaching was just seeing children grow. Um, I was a kindergarten teacher for a long time before going into administration, and um just the progress that they make from coming in knowing nothing to being able to read and write and do math at the end of kindergarten was just so special.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Surely it is special.

Leading Adults And Shaping Culture

SPEAKER_00 1:34

And uh, what's something you've enjoyed about being a vice principal?

SPEAKER_01 1:37

So I love being able to impact not just children but also um adult learners and really working alongside my principal Dina Bray, she's amazing, um, and we just have a really strong relationship. We've done a lot with the culture of our school and trying to build that to be positive has been super impactful. Um so ultimately being able to impact adults the same as impacting children.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Absolutely.

Life In A Rural Georgia District

SPEAKER_00 2:03

And uh tell me a little bit about your area, your school. I don't know much about it. I'm just a little curious.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Okay, so Madison County is right outside of Athens, so it's really close to the University of Georgia. Um we are a rural school district, um, and our it's made up of five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Um, and like I said, we're one of five Danielsville Elementary. Um, I will say our the poverty level in our school is pretty high. Um, our actual school is majority um Caucasian, um, but it is like I said, it's right outside of Athens, um, and we are considered more of a rural school.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

It's amazing to hear. Well, do you have any last words for the Gale community?

Parting Advice For Educators

SPEAKER_01 2:45

I would just say um just continue to grow and learn as an adult learner and just impact students in positive lights.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Awesome. Well, thank you for coming on. Yes. Peace out.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

Thank you.