Principal Brady Smith retirement
Principal Brady Smith has shared the following announcement with the Beacon community:
6-5-23
Dear Beacon Community,
Tomorrow at my District Principal’s Meeting, I will announce my retirement.
I am sorry to not have the opportunity to share with you all in person but the timing of this decision and the Senior Trip just would not allow.
My three years at Beacon have been demanding and wonderful, from taking on the leadership role during the pandemic to today, and I remain proud of the time we have spent together.
Beacon is a special place, made special by the people – staff, students, parents, alum.
I will stay on through the summer while Superintendent Cheng identifies an IA Principal to continue the good work, but my last work day for the DOE will be August 28th.
I have very mixed feelings about leaving Beacon and the school leadership work that I have done for 18 years, but my family have convinced me it is time to unplug and focus on my health and my extended family.
Thank you for your support at Beacon and keep doing wonderful things!
Brady
6-25-23 update from Principal Brady:
Interim Acting Principal process
My last day is August 28th and I will be supervising Summer School at Beacon. Superintendent Cheng is working hard to identify an Interim Acting Principal to serve as my replacement by August 1st so that we will be able to spend time with the IA Principal this summer orienting them before their official start date. The formal process known as the C-30 for hiring an appointed Principal will unfold after that.
Areas of Focus going forward
Beacon is special for many reasons that are integral to the vision and mission of the school, including inquiry-based college preparatory academics, performance-based assessment, a robust and inclusive arts education and wide-ranging extra-curricular activities including athletics and clubs and student unions. All of these aspects of the Beacon experience must be continued, nurtured and strengthened. And in addition to city, state and district level goals and expectations for the school, I want to highlight three areas that I hope will continue to be focus areas in the coming years at Beacon.
1. Ongoing refinement of the PBA process to ensure Grad-Level PBAs are authentic culminating assessments, are embedded in PBA course curricula, are appropriately supported and represent each student’s best work.
2. Continued emphasis on supports for all students at Beacon, including improvements to ICT and 504 implementation, inclusive instruction that maintains high standards while providing points of entry for all, and socio-emotional supports throughout the school but particularly in Advisory, in school-based programs like RAPP and Respect for All, and with counseling staff.
3. Ongoing engagement with DOE Admissions and Enrollment to seek the most effective admissions strategies to continue to admit students who are motivated by the unique mission of our school while ensuring all forms of diversity in our student population.
