Born and raised on Jacksonville’s Eastside, Brandie Stallings has made it a priority to connect with students and families in the often-under-served community.
This includes starting a “Girls on the Move” program for at-risk ninth and 10th grade girls; hosting parent information meetings at community centers on the Eastside, rather than at the school, to increase access for families; and spearheading a “Pushing G for Graduation” campaign that encouraged students to become graduation-ready.
Her outreach to students and families was highlighted as one of many reasons Stallings was selected as Team Duval’s Assistant Principal of the Year.
Surprised with the announcement this week, Stallings shared that she was overwhelmed but honored to represent her school and community.
“It totally caught me off guard,” Stallings told district and community leaders who had gathered at Raines to honor her. “I am glad to be acknowledged for the work that I do at William M. Raines and the North and Eastside communities, and to be a good representation and reflection of the hard work that our leadership team does at Raines.”
Stallings began her career with Team Duval in 2007 as an English teacher at Lake Shore Middle School. She joined Raines High School in 2016 as a principal intern.
School principal, Dr. Vincent Hall, said that Stallings always goes above and beyond for the students and families.
“She believes in our students,” said Hall. “She reaches out to our extended Eastside community, and she created parent programs in the community so that we go to them, they do not have to come to us.”
Hall noted that part of her passion stems from her roots being in the Eastside community.
“These kids are from her community,” Hall said. “She understands them, she loves them, and she was them.”
