By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
Leonard and Clear Lake elementaries will start the 2005-06 school year with new, yet familiar principals.
Joyce Brasington, who’s served as an assistant principal at Oxford Middle School for the last five years, is moving east to take over as principal of Leonard Elementary.
Suzanne Hannant, who’s served as Leonard’s principal for the last seven years, is heading west to replace Jim Schwarz as principal of Clear Lake Elementary.
Schwarz was recently hired as the district’s new executive director of curriculum to replace the recently retired Karen Eckert.
For Brasington, leading an elementary school in a small rural community is a homecoming of sorts.
The lifelong Oxford resident started her educational career at Thomas Elementary, a ‘five-room schoolhouse out in the country? on Thomas Road, which closed its doors as a public school in the early 1980s.
‘When I walked into Leonard Elementary for the first time, I felt that same comfortable feeling (as Thomas Elementary),? Brasington said. ‘My best memories of my education are from that school.?
Brasington went on to graduate from Oxford High School in 1982 and receive her bachelor’s degree with teaching certificate from Wayne State University in 1987.
She spent a number of years in Adult Education and corporate training before committing to public education. ‘I absolutely love working with kids and helping them become adults,? Brasington said.
In 1995, she began her career in the Oxford school district as a yearbook adviser, language arts teacher and business education teacher for both the high school and middle school. She went on to become a counselor at the high school for two years and finally assistant principal at the middle school for the last five years.
Brasington said she’s ‘really excited about this opportunity? in Leonard. ‘I’m looking forward to running my own building and leading staff,? she said.
The mother of two Oxford students ? Jessica, a sixth-grader at OMS, and Jennifer, a second-grader at Lakeville Elementary ? sees her new job as being an ‘educational ambassador.?
‘Someone opening the doors to the community and the parents, making sure people feel welcome,? Brasington said. ‘I’m looking forward to becoming involved in the Leonard community.?
Brasington is no stranger to working with elementary school age kids. She’s led Girl Scout Troop 1203 for six years and Troop 1952 for two years.
She said she’s excited about working with elementary students to help them develop good educational habits, like doing homework, at an early age ? habits that will hopefully last a lifetime. ‘I think sometimes the best time to teach children is at the K-5 level because sometimes their habits are already set by the time they get to middle school where it’s hard to change patterns,? she said.
Brasington, who’s also a member of the Oxford-Orion Kiwanis Club, said her goal is to ‘make sure every student gains something academically and socially every year.? Parents must also be closely included in this process, she stressed.
‘I want to engage the entire family about how important the educational process is and get them in the habit of being involved in their child’s education,? Brasington said. ‘Now is the time to grab the whole family. Sometimes by the time they get to middle school it’s too late.?
If Brasington’s new position in Leonard is a homecoming, then Hannant’s move to Clear Lake is about facing new challenges.
Located in fast-growing Oxford, Clear Lake’s 500-plus student body is almost double Leonard’s 310 kids.
‘I love challenges,? Hannant said. ‘After seven years (at Leonard), this was the opportunity to have a new challenge and move to a bigger building. So, I took advantage of it.?
No stranger to Clear Lake, Hannant spent six of her 25 years in the Oxford district as a teacher there.
Hannant said she’s looking forward to building ‘the partnership between home and school? at Clear Lake.
‘That has been very strong here (at Leonard) and will continue over there (at Clear Lake),? she said.
Hannant wants ‘parents to feel welcome in the building? and be ‘actively involved? in the school both in and out of the classroom.
‘There are a lot of parents out there that would like to be able to participate in their child’s education, but can’t be in the building every week doing something and that’s okay. A partnership is more than that,? she said.
Chaperoning field trips and working on projects for the classroom or school at home are ways these parents can still be involved, Hannant explained.
Hannant admitted she will miss Leonard Elementary, where she taught for nine years before becoming principal there. ‘This is such a wonderful school community here,? she said. ‘They have always made me feel very welcome. It will be very hard not seeing my families, my students and my staff.?
But ‘change is good? for both schools, Hannant said.
‘They’re ready to move on with someone else and I’m ready to move on too.?
Hannant is excited about getting to know more new people at Clear Lake and ‘becoming part of another good school community.?
‘It doesn’t matter where you are in Oxford Schools, you get great parents and great schools.?