Written by Ben Cox– BrownwoodNews.com would like to offer a “tip of our cap” to a selection of women in town that have made a positive impact on the lives of those around them. Whether by profession, or pastime, these community leaders contribute a rich part to the fabric of Brownwood, and we feel they deserve to have their time in the spot light. We present to you, The Leading Ladies of Brownwood. This week’s leading lady is Nanda Wilbourn

 

I sat down with Nanda and asked her our list of questions that each Leading Lady will be asked, with a few off the cuff questions specifically for her, and here are her responses.

  • What is your current profession/What do you do?

I’m the principal at East Elementary. I just finished my 15th year in the district. I was six years at Northwest, first I was the campus facilitator, then I was assistant principal. And I just finished my ninth year at East as principal.

  • What clubs or organizations are you a member of locally?

I am a member at the Methodist church, I’m a member of Delta Kappa Gamma which is an educational fraternity. Being a principal and a pastors wife that keeps you pretty busy. We are active in the community, though.

  • Where were you born?

I was born in Angleton, Tx. My dad was a coach and he coached for 35 years. We were in Angleton and from there went to Beeville, but what I remember is living in Ozona from the time I was three until I was 12.

  • Where did you grow up?

Ozona is where I went to elementary, and Irving is where I went to Middle High and High School. I went to Travis Middle School and MacArthur High.

  • Are your parents still around?

My dad passed away when he was 58, he was walking from the field house to the gym and he had a brain aneurysm. He was at Henderson High School while I was a teacher there. My mother taught kindergarten forever. She retired as a school teacher and went from teaching kindergarten to being the dorm mother at Howard Payne. After my dad passed away, my brother was as senior in high school, and she stayed one more year in Henderson. She said she either wanted to work with the Southern Baptist Mission Board as a volunteer or she wanted to work at Howard Payne. And the volunteer service board assigned her to Howard Payne. And that’s how Joey (her husband) and I met. He was a student and mom was the dorm mother there. So we met, and re-met eight years later and got married. Mother is still alive, her name is Faye Jarvis. Her husband was Oscar, Putter’s brother. 

  • What are some of your fondest memories of childhood?

I was a gym rat. My dad was a coach and I can remember riding on the bus with the team and keeping books, and stats and all that kind of stuff. I was a big daddy’s girl. This was in Ozona, but then even when he coached at my high school a lot of times after school I would go to the gym after school and do my homework.

Mainly that whole coaching thing, I don’t think people really get that. It’s really a FAMILY calling, almost. It’s kind of like being a pastor, you all have to buy in. I think most of my memories are around sports and being a coaches daughter.

  • Who left a lasting impression upon you that still is with you today?

There was a couple that were sponsors and helped with my youth group in high school at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving. Their names were Blaine and Golden Parsons, they were just so involved. They were in their late 20’s, and years later they ran a Christian camp in East Texas and I left teaching and worked for them for five years. Then they moved up to Red River and ran a ski lodge. Before Joey and I married, I went up there for two summers and worked for them. After Joey and I married we moved up there for a few years and ran the ski lodge.

Blaine and Golden Parsons from the time I was in Junior High, even now, spiritually the impact they had on me. Christianity wasn’t something you do, it was how you lived your life.

  • What do you hope your legacy will be?

Oh, man.

I just think there are two words that come to mind. They are intentionality and authenticity. That I live with my life with intention and I want to give permission to people to be who they are and to be real and be passionate about what they do. If you’re gonna be a bricklayer, be passionate about it. Find joy and passion in what you do. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not. I want to live my life on purpose. Every year I feel God gives me a word for the year and this year my word has been intentional.

  • What is one lesson that you would like your to students to take with them into adulthood?

I don’t think the average person in Brownwood realizes the poverty in our community and what kids come to school without. It’s not that their parents don’t love them or don’t care about them.  I just want kids to know that they’re enough, and that they can work with what they have.

It’s funny, coach Burnett came to our campus to talk about the football and athletic camps. And he talked about kindness, and that word has really stuck with me. Just the simplicity of being kind. Every morning I greet my kids and they have to look me in the eye and say “Good morning, Mrs Wilbourn”, because I want them to know it’s important to look people in the eye and not have to duck your head and be ashamed of anything. Every day is a fresh start.

Just be kind. Be nice to people. It’s that easy.

  • Why?

I think especially with children, they’re already carrying stuff that they’re so little they don’t know how to deal with. So, for me and my staff, we can be kind to children and give them an opportunity. I tell my staff that these are the children and the parents that God has given us this year. So to be kind is important to me.

  • How has living in Brownwood shaped your life?

Well, it’s funny, my dad was born here on Elizabeth drive. He played football here, he’s in the sports hall of fame at Howard Payne, he proposed to my mom on the steps of Old Main, and Joey went to college here. So, Brownwood, has been a part of my life since before I was born, so it’s kinda funny that we would end up here.

Brownwood is what you make it. People complain about nothing to do, but it’s what you make it. Get involved with things, meet people. There are awesome people, very good, kind people in Brownwood.

  • If you could speak to yourself as a High School freshman, what would you say to yourself?

Oh my…

I would tell myself that your life is so much bigger than what you can see right now. Give yourself a break. This isn’t the whole picture, there’s more.

  • What is one goal for yourself/family that you haven’t achieved yet?

That’s kinda hard to say when our boys are on their own. I always think of fitness, I can look back at a time when I was at the gym three or four days a week.

I sometimes feel like there’s so much more to my job that I could be doing.

I think to be passionate about things but be content with where you are.

(From the other room, after being asked, her husband Joey adds) ‘I think you could be sweeter to your husband!’ To which Nanda playfully replies ‘Oh, shut up!’

To make it through these years with our kids in their first time out on their own, to be able not to worry, and be at peace knowing that we’ve done what we can do. Joey and I now have I life to live.

  • How do you feel you have impacted Brownwood?

I tell you, when you love somebody’s kids, and they know that you love their kids, and they trust you with their children, what more can you do? I think we (as a society) de-value teachers and we don’t honor them enough for what they do. If I have had any impact it’s to have gathered a group of people together and have imparted to them the importance of really caring for children.

  • What is one thing you’d like to see for the future of Brownwood?

I feel like there’s a kind of a poverty mentality in Brownwood, not based on income. But there’s a segment of our society that feels hopeless, and I would like to see people feel hopeful. That coming to Brownwood they would find the resources that they need. That there would be a part of our community that helps people better themselves and have pride in themselves. That people feel enabled to better their own lives. I would LOVE to see that through the school, for parents to get involved and feel like they have a part of what’s going on in our community. The school system is the biggest industry in our city. So, if we can get parents involved in something positive that we’re doing, the school system can totally affect the community.

  • What makes you proud to live in Brownwood?

I feel that I am part of an organization that is helping. I’m proud that I work for Brownwood ISD. In the 15 years that I have been here I have seen a tremendous amount of growth and change and we are still moving and changing. I’m also proud of what Joey does and that I have a part of that and get to walk with him in that.

I just think of some of the individuals I know, like Debbie Morelock, Kim Bruton, Emily Crawford, that want to see our city change, they want to see growth, they aren’t satisfied with the status quo. I think we have an element in our community that want to see change for the city, and that makes me proud to be part of that element. That phrase “be the change” I wanna be a part of that.

  • What does it mean to you to be considered one of the “Leading Ladies of Brownwood?”

It’s very humbling. Because I look at some of the women I know in this community, and to be considered a leader is a big responsibility. It’s just really an honor when I look at all the women I know. I look at all the years my mom lived here and what she gave and my first thought was “she’ll be so proud” because she was truly a leading lady in Brownwood. It’s an honor.