Brown named Morrison principal: Former high school assistant principal to replace Bennett
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“We had a good selection of applicants for the Morrison job, but Mr. Brown’s experience as an elementary principal and high school assistant principal was his biggest advantage,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale.
“He is very familiar with Morrison and showed a real desire to go back to the elementary setting. We feel he is the best fit for the job,” Hale added.
Brown was chosen for the position by a selection committee comprising Dr. Hale, Human Resources Director Roy Pierce, Director of Instruction Priscilla Wanamaker and School Board Personnel Committee Chairman Edd Cantrell.
Brown’s career in education has spanned over 30 years. The Warren County native began his career in 1970 in Georgia as a teacher and a coach. He returned to middle Tennessee in 1972 to teach and coach in Smyrna, where he remained for eight years. When he was offered an elementary principal position in Lebanon in 1980 he accepted enthusiastically.
In four years’ time he was offered the position of baseball coach at Warren County Senior High. He said while he really enjoyed school administration, he accepted because he was anxious to return home to McMinnville. He remained Pioneer baseball coach until 1995 when high school principal George Bolding hired him as a grade level principal, a position he said he has thoroughly enjoyed.
In seeking the principal position at Morrison, Brown said he was motivated in part by the school’s reputation. “Morrison is a fine school, with a good program and a great community. I wanted to be a part of that,” he said. “I feel this is a great opportunity for me and a perfect match.”
Asked of his plans, he said the first thing he intends to do is go in with his “eyes and ears open” and talk to the school’s faculty and staff. “They’re obviously doing well and I want to see how things are done first of all, rather than going in and making changes that aren’t necessary.”
His biggest goal, he said, will be to improve upon the school’s successes, particularly in state testing. “I’ll first look at raising test scores and go from there.”