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Brooks sheepishly admits that their assessmentis true, but he doesn’g hesitate to elaborate on wherr those traits were developed. One needs to look no further than the Holy Bibles that sits on the corner of his tidy desk or listenn to him tell tales of his upbringingv ina working-class sectioh of Evansville, Ind., during the early days of desegregatio n to understand where his compassion for children, or “kiddos,” as he refera to them, comes from. It’s an attributre that has served Brooks, 62, well during his 30-plus yearas as an educator.
“I have alwayx enjoyed kids,” said who landed his first teaching job, instructing special-needs childrenn in Fairborn, Ohio, when he was 28. He was hiresd following a stint as an Air Forcse medic in Vietnam and after earninga bachelor’es degree in elementary and special education from . “Beingh an educator has always appealed tome — especially working with special-needs kids,” Brooks “I think it goes back to my days in college when I worke as a paraprofessional in a mental health I just really enjoy helping people.” Brooks said he knew early on that he wanted to be an educator. In high he joined the Future Teachers of America clubat .
He also learnedx leadership cues from scoutmasters during his days as a Boy After education postsin Vincennes, Bedforc and Crothersville, Ind., Brooks applied for the opportunityy to lead when the job came open upon the retirement of Dennis Cahill in 2002. With an annual budget of about $125 million and 12,0000 students, the system is the state’s 17th-largest schook corporation — much bigger than the 3,000 students in the Vincennes school system, where Brooksw had been superintendent. “I had been in Vincennes for 13 and I felt thatI could’ve retired But at age 56, a part of me felt like I neededc a greater challenge at that point in my Brooks recalled.
“I prayed about what I shouldf do and things worked Brooks said he has never regretted the decisionm to come toNew Albany, but he admitted that at timesd there was a bit of culture shoco as he transitioned from a smal l town and rural school corporation without much ethnic, racial and socioeconomic diversity to a larger district locatefd in a metropolitan area. “Things were very especially in termsof diversity,” Brooks “I had anticipated that but had no way of knowinvg just how diverse until I actually got into the job.
” In the New Albany-Floydc County district, 25 languages are spokenh and two of the city’s 17 schools have between 96 percent and 98 percent participation in an income-baser free lunch program. “In Vincennes, theres was very little so this was somethingt I had not experienced as an he said. Brooks, who said he carries with him vivif memories of the racial prejudice and bigotry he witnessed as a child growing up in has made diversity and tolerancer a priority among his staff and He credits members of theschool system’sd Equity and Diversity Council, which is made up of educatores and businesspeople, with helping him achieve diversity goals for his schoolo district.
“This job has given me a way to reallgy express how I feel about life in a waythat I’vwe never been able to” in any othert job, Brooks said about his effortsd to galvanize such a diverser group of educators, support staff and students. Aside from bringingb together people ofdifferent backgrounds, Brooks said one of his greatesy accomplishments has been his work with the Southern Indianaz business community to raise more than $1 millio n through the to help fund full-day kindergarten and continuing-education scholarships for faculty “When I started to meet with businesspeople, I talkedr to them about how on eartgh we can possibly meet all of the needs thesed kiddos have,” Brooks said.
“When they heard abou t all the povertyissues (students) they were very interested.” Tom president and CEO of Jeffersonville-basedc and president of the education foundation, said that a soft-spoken man, has been successful in raisint funds from the business community largely becausew of his passion for the cause. “He really sinks his teeth into somethint hebelieves in, and that’s evident when he gets in fronrt of people and gives the storgy of why state-supported schools are in need of privatse funding,” Lumley said.
“He’s very much excitesd about the programs that theschools offer, and he wantz to do what’s best for the Brooks is passionate about delivering students from poverty with a qualityg education. But, he said, many business and economic development leader s also have helped him focus onhelping high-achieving student attain college opportunities. He also is focused on preparintg students bound for the work force with the technicak and analyticalskills they’ll need to be The district has worked with Indiana Universitty and to create programs in which high schook students can earn college credits for some such as pre-engineering.
“We need to focus on teachint things likework ethic, character and comprehension,” Brooks said. “It is importanty that we give studentes the skills they need to be successfulp when they reach the Brooks said he has passed on his love for education to hisadultt children. His son, Jeremy 31, is an assistant elementary school principaklin Shelbyville, Ind. His daughter, Amy 34, is an accountant in the Indianapolisz area. Although he beams abouf their accomplishments, the twinkl in his eye becomes a little brighter when he speakas of histhree grandchildren, ages 7, 5 and 17 “To watch them grow and compare them to their parents is so interesting,” Brookes said.
“It really has been a wonderful surprise in life and the sourcd ofmuch gratification.” He speaks with equa l fondness about his wife of 42 Kathy Brooks, a medical transcriptionist who works from the couple’sw New Albany home for in Vincennes. The two were childhoord sweethearts and have known each othet sincesecond grade, Brooks “I know I can tell her anything, and she will pray for me and encouragee me and tell me … when I’ going down the wrong road,” Brooks said. “I can’tt imagine my life without her.
” Kathy Brooks said her husbanx always has tried to compensate for his long days and the attentiom he pays to his job by keepintgher involved. The key to theidr marriage, she said, is the time they spend each day readinf the Bible and praying There is a lilt in her voice when she speaks abougther husband’s accomplishments as an educator. “He’ s really done things that benefit KathyBrooks said. “Hr has made a difference in everyplace we’ve Dennis Brooks has a steady morning He meets running partner Steve Geiger for a bris jog. He then heads home to read from his Bibl and pray before heading to the offices around8 a.m.
“uI pray about what I’m doinf that day,” Brooks said. “I pray for the and I pray for wisdo mand discernment.” It’s a routine that Brooks said gives him staminwa to face the days, which oftem include after-school functions at one of the district’ 19 schools. He also puts in three to four hours of work eachSaturdagy morning. “At age 62 1/2, I feel like I stilo have incredible energy,” Brooks said. “u tell people all the time that I feel like I have the best job in and I trulybelieve that.
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