A parent pulling into the drop-off zone at Ypsilanti High School just before school starts may see a slim, well-dressed, gray-haired man standing at the curb talking with incoming students or an employee.
That man is Jonathan Brown, now serving as interim principal of the school.
Later in the day, a visitor to the school may have trouble finding Brown in his office. That's because he makes a point of stopping in to greet each teacher every day and is out in the halls both during class changeover times and in between. Should a call come over the school's radio system, he's up and moving immediately in response.
Brown, 59, came to Ypsilanti at the behest of Superintendent James Hawkins, with whom Brown served in the Pontiac School District. Brown spent 34 years in the Pontiac district before retiring in 2005.
"I was at Pontiac Central High School. There are no windows in that school," Brown says. "Literally, it was designed by a prison architect and there are no windows. As I walked around (at Ypsilanti High School) the first day, I thought what a great building it is, with all this light and air."
As much as he loves the building, Brown has become an even bigger fan of the YHS students and staff.
"These are great kids," he says with quiet enthusiasm. "The staff here is terrific. I'm very happy to be here."
Brown replaces Layne Hunt, who is on administrative leave until his contract ends on June 30. Hawkins called Brown out of retirement when the vacancy arose.
Besides serving as principal at Pontiac Central, Brown has experience with younger students as principal of both Washington and Madison middle schools in Pontiac. He also served as head football and wrestling coach in the district.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocational education from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. He holds two Master's of Arts degrees, one from Central Michigan University and one from Wayne State University in Education in educational administration. He also served two years in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Brown is a soft-spoken man, but his presence is felt in the halls of YHS.
"I know he's very visible. He walks the halls," says Hawkins. "He has already changed the culture of the high school in a positive way."
Brown says he is committed to safety. "Kids can't learn unless they feel safe," he says. "I believe in discipline, but discipline with love."
Within the first days of his assignment, Brown was confronted with some trials of his authority. In one instance, four girls jumped another girl, assaulting her.
"After we broke that up, I had the girls' files brought to me," Brown says. "I looked over long lists of conduct problems."
Brown moved for expulsion of the girls and those hearings have taken place, according to board trustee Andrew Fanta.
"There are only a few kids who don't want to be here and don't want to obey the rules," Brown says. "Those young people need to find alternative places to be, because we cannot have them jeopardizing the good students we have here."
In addition, during one of his first days on the job, a bomb threat was found in one of the bathrooms.
"Mr. Brown was not aware of our procedures," says Hawkins, "but sometimes you have to make judgment calls. He called a fire drill, which I thought was a rather creative way of getting the kids out of the school."
The building was then searched by building assistants and assistant principals and no bomb was found.
Brown believes in enforcing the dress code, too. "How you dress is how you represent yourself."
Brown says he is grateful for the opportunity to come to Ypsilanti, despite the 60-mile drive from his home in Shelby Township.
"I have met wonderful people who have offered their homes to me. I enjoy being able to reach out and connect with this community. Ypsilanti is a wonderful place."
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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