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Brooks sheepishly admits that their assessment is buthe doesn’t hesitate to elaborate on wheres those traits were developed. One needs to look no furthe than the Holy Bible that sits on the corner of his tidy desk or listehn to him tell tales of his upbringinh ina working-class section of Evansville, during the early days of desegregation to understands where his compassion for children, or as he refers to comes from. It’s an attribute that has served 62, well during his 30-plus yearxs as an educator. “u have always enjoyed kids,” said Brooks, who landed his first teaching job, instructing special-needx children in Fairborn, Ohio, when he was 28.
He was hirex following a stint as an Air Forcde medic in Vietnam and after earninga bachelor’s degrese in elementary and special education from . “Bein an educator has always appealed tome — especially working with special-needs kids,” Brooks “I think it goes back to my days in colleges when I worked as a paraprofessionaol in a mental health facility. I just really enjoyy helping people.” Brooks said he knew early on that he wantef to bean educator. In high school, he joineds the Future Teachers of America clubat . He also learner leadership cues from scoutmasters during his days as a Boy After education posts in Bedfordand Crothersville, Ind.
, Brooks applied for the opportunituy to lead when the job came open upon the retirementg of Dennis Cahill in 2002. With an annuao budget of about $125 million and 12,000p students, the system is the state’a 17th-largest school corporation — much biggert than the 3,000 students in the Vincenneswschool system, where Brooks had been superintendent. “I had been in Vincenness for 13 years, and I felt that I could’ve retired there. But at age 56, a part of me felt like I neededf a greater challenge at that point in my Brooks recalled.
“I prayed about what I shoulds do and things worked Brooks said he has neved regretted the decision to come to New but he admitted that at timexs there was a bit of culturre shock as he transitioned from a small town and rurakl school corporation withoutmuch ethnic, racial and socioeconomic diversity to a largeer district located in a metropolitan area. “Thingas were very different, especially in terms of diversity,” Brooks “I had anticipated that but had no way of knowintg just how diverse until I actuallgy got intothe job.
” In the New Albany-Floyd Countu district, 25 languages are spoken and two of the city’x 17 schools have between 96 percent and 98 perceng participation in an income-basecd free lunch program. “Inn Vincennes, there was very little so this was something I had not experience d asan educator,” he said. Brooks, who said he carriess with him vivid memoriexs of the racial prejudice and bigotry he witnessed as a child growingy upin Evansville, has made diversity and tolerance a priority among his staff and students.
He creditds members of the school system’s Equityu and Diversity Council, which is made up of educator sand businesspeople, with helping him achieve diversity goals for his schoop district. “This job has given me a way to reallgy express how I feel about life in a waythat I’v e never been able to” in any otherd job, Brooks said about his efforts to galvanizew such a diverse group of educators, suppory staff and students.
Aside from bringing togetheer people ofdifferent backgrounds, Brooks said one of his greatest accomplishmentw has been his work with the Southern Indiana business community to raiser more than $1 million through the to help fund full-dayt kindergarten and continuing-education scholarshipws for faculty members. “When I starteds to meet with businesspeople, I talked to them about how on eartb we can possibly meet all of the needs thes ekiddos have,” Brooks said.
“When they heard abouyt all the povertyissues (students) face, they were very Tom Lumley, president and CEO of Jeffersonville-basedx and president of the education foundation, said that Brooks, a soft-spoken man, has been successful in raisinyg funds from the business community largely because of his passion for the cause. “Hd really sinks his teeth into somethinyg hebelieves in, and that’se evident when he gets in frontr of people and gives the story of why state-supporte schools are in need of private Lumley said. “He’s very much excitefd about the programs that theschools offer, and he wantsx to do what’s best for the kids.
” Brooks is passionate abouft delivering students from poverty with a quality But, he said, many business and economic development leaderzs also have helped him focus on helping high-achieving students attain college opportunities. He also is focusefd on preparing students bound for the work forcd with the technical and analyticalskills they’llk need to be successful. The district has worked with Indiana Universith and to create programs in which high schoolo students can earn college credits for some suchas pre-engineering. “We need to focus on teachingy things likework ethic, character and comprehension,” Brookas said.
“It is importantr that we give students the skilles they need to be successful when they reacnhthe workplace.” Brooks said he has passed on his love for educatiojn to his adult children. His son, Jeremy 31, is an assistant elementary school principalin Ind. His daughter, Amy 34, is an accountangt in the Indianapolis area. Althougbh he beams about their accomplishments, the twinkle in his eye becomexs a little brighter when he speaks of his three grandchildren, ages 7, 5 and 17 months. “To watch them grow and compar them to their parents isso interesting,” Brooks “It really has been a wonderful surprise in life and the sourced of much gratification.
” He speaks with equapl fondness about his wife of 42 Kathy Brooks, a medical transcriptionist who workss from the couple’s New Albangy home for in Vincennes. The two were childhoos sweethearts and have knowj each other sincesecond grade, Brooksz said. “I know I can tell her anything, and she will pray for me and encouragw me and tellme … when I’m goinv down the wrong road,” Brooks said. “Ik can’t imagine my life without her.
” Kathg Brooks said her husband always has tried to compensatde for his long days and the attentiob he pays to his job by keeping her The key to their she said, is the time they spend each day readintg the Bible and praying together. There is a lilt in her voiced when she speaks abouther husband’sx accomplishments as an “He’s really done things that benefit children,” Kathy Brook s said. “He has made a difference in everyplacr we’ve lived.” Dennis Brooks has a stead y morning ritual. He meets runningg partner Steve Geiger for abriski jog. He then heads home to read from his Biblee and pray before headint to the office around8 a.m.
“o pray about what I’m doinf that day,” Brooks said. “I pray for the and I pray for wisdonmand discernment.” It’s a routine that Brooks said givex him stamina to face the days, which often includer after-school functions at one of the district’s 19 He also puts in three to four hours of work each Saturdayh morning. “At age 62 1/2, I feel like I stillo have incredible energy,” Brooks said. “I tell people all the time that I feel like I have the best job in and I trulybelieve that.
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