Dr. Scott S. Brabrand to assume post April 1, 2012
At the December 6th Lynchburg City School Board meeting, the School Board voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Scott S. Brabrand as the 12th Superintendent of Lynchburg City Schools. Dr. Brabrand is currently serving as Assistant Superintendent in the Fairfax County Public Schools and will assume office on April 1, 2012. Dr. Larry A. Massie will continue to serve as Interim Superintendent through March 31, 2012.
“The School Board is honored that Dr. Brabrand will be assuming this critical leadership position for the city of Lynchburg. His career in public education has been marked by a rapid ascendancy in one of the nation’s elite public school divisions, as well as a remarkable track record for improvement in academic achievement for students from all ethnic backgrounds and economic circumstances. Public education in Lynchburg is facing a formidable combination of fiscal, instructional and social challenges. As a strong executive, a strategic thinker and a vigorous advocate of public education, Dr. Brabrand brings the right leadership characteristics to our school system and our city at the right time,” said School Board Chairman Charlie White.
As Assistant Superintendent for one of the most diverse clusters in the Fairfax County Public Schools (Cluster IV) since 2009, Dr. Brabrand has been responsible for providing educational and administrative leadership to 27 schools and approximately 2,500 employees, serving over 22,000 students. During his tenure, the number of schools achieving 90% SOL math proficiency increased from 5 to 12 schools. Additionally, 4 of the Cluster’s 6 Title 1 schools that were in state sanction for reading and math exited from those sanctions. Dr. Brabrand was also selected as “District Shepherd” for the system’s Priority Schools Initiative that focused on increasing academic achievement in 30 lower performing schools in partnership with the University of Virginia’s Turnaround Specialist Program.
Prior to assuming the Assistant Superintendent post, Dr. Brabrand served a highly successful tenure as principal at Fairfax High School from 2005 to 2009. Under his leadership, Fairfax High School increased enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) classes by 54 percent over a three-year period and increased enrollment in pre-AP honors courses by 42 percent. The achievement gap for Hispanic students on English and math Standards of Learning (SOL) tests was eliminated. For African American students, limited English proficient students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities, the achievement gap shrunk to 10 percent or less. Dr. Brabrand also championed a school-wide Rewards and Remediation program that decreased failing grades in SOL classes by 57 percent in two years. He also served as the leader for the LEAD Fairfax Aspiring Principals Cohort starting in 2008, designing and implementing a leadership curriculum for 16 aspiring principals, for whom he helped develop individual development plans and served as a mentor.
Prior to becoming principal at Fairfax, Dr. Brabrand served as an associate principal at Lake Braddock Secondary School, as an assistant principal and social studies teacher at Herndon High School, and as administrator of the Early Start and Jump Start summer programs.
Dr. Brabrand, who is proficient in Spanish, worked in management in the telecommunications industry for three years before becoming a teacher. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, his master’s degree in education from George Washington University, and his doctorate in educational administration from Virginia Tech.
He has taught courses on public school law for Virginia Tech and George Mason University and on school curriculum and instruction for the University of Virginia. He has served as an officer in the Fairfax County High School Principals Association, the Northern Virginia Secondary Schools Administrators Association, and the Virginia High School League’s Northern Region. He has also served as the Literacy Director for the Fairfax Rotary Club.
A native of Newport News and a life-long Virginia resident, Dr. Brabrand looks forward to his family, consisting of his wife, Debbie, and his twin sons, Bennett and William, joining the Lynchburg family and continuing the “Tradition of Excellence” in Lynchburg City Schools.
The extension of Dr. Massie’s tenure as Interim Superintendent through March 31, 2012 will allow him to complete his work on several important board initiatives, and will help ensure a smooth and productive transition under Dr. Brabrand’s leadership.
Dr. Brabrand’s appointment marks the end of a nearly four month national search conducted with the assistance of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, the oldest and largest national search consultant in the K-12 educational leadership field. The search process incorporated input from nearly 1,000 community stakeholders, LCS employees, parents and students. The School Board received 40 applications for the position and interviewed multiple highly qualified candidates from within the Commonwealth and across the country.