Written by Ben Cox – With a new school year not only knocking on the door, but begging to come in, let’s take a look at what back-to-school looks like from a unique perspective. In this series of articles, we will visit with each of Brownwood ISD’s principals to see what they think about returning to school for a new term.
Continuing with Elementary education, we now head to East Elementary to visit with their principal, Nanda Wilbourn. Ms Wilbourn has been in education for 26 years, 16 of those in Brownwood. Wilbourn says the 16 years she has spent in Brownwood ISD, 10 of those as principal at East, have been the highlight of her career in education.
The smallest campus of the Brownwood ISD with just over 330 students at the close of last year, East teachers and faculty are a close knit family. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any new faces this year though, as they are welcoming several new teachers to campus.
“We have two new first grade teachers, a new teacher that came from Northwest in Second Grade, and two new teachers in third grade. For a campus our size that is quite a turn over, plus three new T.A.’s. I’m always excited to have new people!”
Another first for Wilbourn is her first male classroom teacher. “He was in the air force for 20 plus years and has been teaching for five. He’s real excited and real passionate.”
Passion for kids and education is paramount for Wilbourn, a trait she looks for in all her prospective teachers and assistants. It’s one which she herself exudes during any conversation about her students, or education in general.
A fan of themes and single-word mottos, Wilbourn chooses to focus this year on kindness. “The only thing that’s in my heart is just kindness, I want that to be our theme. I think we get away from the simplicity of just being nice. I just wanna go back to some real basics, and I think you just can’t go wrong with kindness.”
A new phonics program is another exciting tool for this year, which will help in her quest to get back to basics. “Our kids are so used to the digital world, but you really do need to learn how to read and write. After the second grade you’re not learning to read anymore, you’re reading to learn.”
Wilbourn is also quick to praise the school district’s central office for efforts they have gone to to put each elementary campus on the same footing. “They have done a really great job to make sure that the three elementary schools are all on the same page. If kids transfer from Northwest or Woodland, things will look familiar.”
East Elementary’s Meet the Teacher night is August 20th, from 4 to 6 p.m. Start time for East is at 7:50 a.m. with students getting out for the day at 3:15 p.m. Information about specific drop-off and pickup areas are available on the school’s website.
