As the new Jackson-Reed principal Sah Brown says he has three main objectives: build trust, ensure student safety, and uplift the academic environment. 

“We’re working hard to build a unified school,” Brown said in an interview with the Beacon. “People want to come to a place that they feel good about, so I think the more we do that and reinforce that, the clearer it can be.”

Brown, who joined Jackson-Reed after six years at Eastern High School, will inherit major challenges. The 2022-23 school year is the second year after the school returned to in-person learning. In the past four weeks of school, one COVID-19 case has been reported to DCPS. However, there is also no longer asymptomatic testing.

Brown will also inherit overcrowding issues, managing a school of 2,300 students, nearly 500 students over capacity. As Brown hopes to unify the school, his initiatives also follow a name change and numerous instances of hateful speech. 

In recent years, there were several instances of vandalism that were investigated by the administration with no apparent findings. 

Brown said he plans to work with the SGA to fully develop and understand the No Place for Hate guidance and policy. The No Place for Hate initiative, which began in 2021, aims to eradicate hate speech in school communities.

“Hate tears apart the school community, and we’re working hard to build a unified school,” Brown said.

After the nearly seven-year name change process, the building also went under significant structural and intangible changes.

In an effort to familiarize the community with the name change, Brown held a panel at the beginning of the school year with members of Vincent Reed and Edna Jackson’s friends, family members, and colleagues to familiarize the Jackson-Reed staff with the story of the school’s namesakes. 

“There’s a lot of power and importance in names,” Brown said. 

Brown has already begun to introduce new Jackson-Reed policies. Beginning on the first day of school, all students were required to sign in with their IDs to prevent students who do not go to the school from entering the building. Students are also now required to carry hall passes in the hallways, and security guards conduct 20 minute bathroom checks to prevent extended breaks from class.

To further build unity, Brown is frequently a strong presence in the school building—standing 6 feet 8 inches tall, with a focus on “getting to know the students, the faculty, the parent, the staff, [and finding] opportunities to connect,” Brown said. 

Over the summer, Brown worked with the Department of General Services (DGS) to fix external and internal safety measures, including fixing the locks of broken doors and having bathroom stalls repainted. 

“The bathrooms at Jackson-Reed can be improved, but people have put a lot of work on that [this year],” Brown said. He’s even hoping to change the small details; to keep the bathrooms in orders, the toilet paper dispensers will be replaced. 

Brown said he also plans to continue beautification days—following the one with 100 attendees in the summer—as community service opportunities.

“This needs to be an environment [where] people feel comfortable coming in. Kids learn better when they feel safe and supported,” Brown said.

To improve Jackson-Reed academics, Brown plans to rely on the DC+XQ program. Recently in collaboration with DC Public Schools, the XQ institute offers a redesign of the academic and social high school experience. The institute can offer changes ranging from a remodeling of the classes offered to an increased offering of social opportunities for students.

 Brown plans to use the 2022-23 school year as an opportunity to raise awareness about the opportunities provided by the institute. 

In the following months, Brown will meet with separate groups in the Jackson-Reed community, including students, to develop a list of specific goals, such as attendance and student performance, to address along with new changes. 

Brown began meeting with the Instructional Leadership team in the first weeks of school. The team, made up of teachers from all departments, will come up with strategies to provide professional development and collaboration amongst teachers.

Prior to serving at Jackson-Reed, Brown worked in D.C. schools for over 15 years as a principal, special education coordinator, teacher, and assistant principal. During that time, Brown was an assistant principal at Jackson-Reed High School (then-Woodrow Wilson). While there, Brown managed 27 teachers across three departments: Social Studies, World Languages, and Art. 

From 2016 to 2022, Brown was the principal of Eastern High School. While at Eastern, Brown established the first National Academy Foundation (NAF) Academy of Health Sciences—a program introduced to Jackson-Reed—expanded International Baccalaureate offerings, and increased feeder school engagement. During his time at Eastern, Brown also oversaw an increase to PARCC literacy scores.

“I’m a values-based leader,” Brown said, “which is why I shared the R.O.A.R expectations [with the students.” R.O.A.R stands for Responsibility, Ownership, Accountability, and Responsibility. Brown plans to hold each student to this standard. •