boys and girls I brought you all in here
because I wanted to talk to you about a
couple of things these people that talk
about you that don't even know you you
know what they say there's lots of
fights there's lots of trouble well
we're gonna change that we don't want
nobody talking about our school a
certain way no more we're not here to be
average we're here to be amazing does
everybody understand and by the way you
have to be the change you know in
education we've got a huge problem
you've got to move away from this
archaic educational process we build
these schools on square boxes and kids
fill these square boxes the world isn't
a square box no more times changed kids
have changed and we got to move with
that how far you willing to go for a
child my name is Hamish brewer and I am
NOT typical principal I'm trying to
change the game for principal you know
what's funny is I've always seen myself
as an educational disrupter because I
was so frustrated with the way education
is being done for so long I think I was
just on a mission to disrupt the norm
before I got to Occoquan Oklahoma's a
sleepy little school it was ready to be
awoken and we are working the Beast
there if there was a way to make that
experience for our kids authentic and
relevant we were gonna do it we went to
unlimited field trips we changed the
lighting to daylight bulbs we went to an
audio enhance classroom revolutionized
the classroom as a school we win in that
direction then it just exploded from
there in five years we won five school
of Excellence Awards we're not defined
by letter grades we're not defined by a
number we're defined by what we do
[Applause]
it's unbelievable the journey at
Occoquan is coming to an end we created
such a magical experience for kids and
adults and you know I want to get back
to disrupting the flow again and it's
sad to say goodbye but I'm excited now
to say that I'm transitioning this
summer to be the new principal at
Freedland middle school
when I was a kid I was always dreaming
of the things I didn't have or couldn't
have that became my inspiration and my
aspiration I think part of what what
makes my principalship and leadership
style so successful is that I'm trying
not to repeat the mistakes that were
made for me I was one of these kids I
know what it's like to come from a
separated family I know what it's like
to see too much alcohol and other things
and old poverty that comes with it I
know what it's like to eat pizza because
it's cheaper to get a piece of pizza
that night than it is to have a full
meal when you can relate to them on that
level that's when you can change the
game this work isn't for everybody
you're gonna hear and see things that
might really break your heart reminding
you of how much work is left to do you
know in schools where you've got a lot
of diversity and a lot of poverty often
folks don't always think these kids have
people revolving in and out of their
lives I have to be the constant I came
here because I wanted to be here I want
Fred Lynn I want this school
historically Fred Lynn has underachieved
it hasn't been where we wanted it to be
we want that explosion of growth now we
want to unlock its true potential
if this doesn't change a failed a
community of failed children I can't
fail this community is counting on me
this community knows me they believe in
me I can't fail them that's not an
option
you just want to count it nothing
underneath it right alright done done
consider it done give me your seat sign
it I'll pay for it it doesn't matter
where I am I want to do something
magical I'm going to look for those
opportunities in a building to do that
I'm doing it here at Fred Lynn I did it
at aqua Kwan this is my house like this
is this is mine now welcome to my house
[Music]
one of my favorite things to do is to
change the face of a facility I want to
make it that most amazing a place for
kids to come I don't want them to be
shortchanged on anything these kids have
enough shortchange in their life let
alone coming to a school being
shortchanged in a school the kids at
freslin are going to see and feel a
different message to go to a place
they've never been before and they're
surrounded by that when you can look on
a wall and you see dr. King or you see
Steve Jobs you instantly go to a new
place but to unlock the potential of
these kids we have to be the advocate
for them the voice for them that's never
been when I was a kid the most amazing
experiences I had I was having fun I've
tried to recreate that here at Fred Lynn
everything I do is about kids every
decision I make comes back to was I
better for kids to date it's about
having fun it's good to see you thanks
for coming out mr. Brue the new
principal I appreciate you guys coming
out I had a bunch of teachers you want
us to come help and I'm like now we
might get 10 people I'm in trouble with
the place is packed it's so important to
have buy-in from the community because
that's what's gonna move the needle
forward if we don't have buy-in nothing
changes good to see is this your guy yes
I am mr. brewer your new principal and I
am super excited to be the new
principals a new director here at
Franklin middle school
I came from a school that was one of the
very best in the nation we did not stop
that way but we finished that way and we
plan to make Fred Lynn
the next best school in the nation all
right yes I can't do this without you
you're signing up to be part of an
amazing school and changing the
narrative of what happens in Woodbridge
what happens at Fred Lynn and I need you
all right there's no opt-out all in
means all in we have a gang mentality
almost here you either in our gang or
you're not there's no opting out of what
we want to do in achieve
all hands on deck all hands on deck
let's open them up let's go all right
let's go save time game time let's go
good morning Hornets it's our time it's
go time it's gonna be special this year
I want to see you thinking about being
relentless also in this if somebody
didn't tell you today they love you
mr. Brue is telling you today that he
loves you have a great day
down low down low down low
up high up high let's go let's go let's
go let's get to class in this hustle to
today's first day at friedlin middle
school first day back good morning
everybody
great job you guys excited today I'm
excited to see you guys
we're big on men is too right mr. Bruce
chasing that stuff down you know we've
had principals sometimes where the kids
are like who is the principal I mean
that's awful right he's showing the kids
with the expectations but he's also
coming into our classroom I mean they're
gonna know who he is in three seconds
already you have kids saying yes sir yes
ma'am you have kids looking you in the
eye saying good morning they're walking
on the correct side of the hallway
they're more on time I texted some of
the teachers from Occoquan said he's
doing it again that transitioning that
energy it's it's contagious I feel alive
again
I feel like hey this is why I became a
teacher was to do cool stuff so we can
inspire these kids if you want to
believe it before today you're believing
now never again will anybody doubt us
I'm gonna tell you why
I'm asking you to work so hard because
life ain't easy
life is not gonna give you a handout we
are going to change the conversation
about our school and I need your help
you have to be the answer you have to be
the change you're gonna be relentless if
we can help people grow or help people
be the change or evolve to that place
and without door kids you know it's
going to be beyond just what we did here
at our colonial Freidman the ultimate
goal is to help all kids all kids
deserve this
you know ah who's your favorite
principal today yeah good answer
oh this is great can I come hang out in
your class alright mr. t let's roll you
guys crazy you having way too much fun
in there stop that stop that business