19-02-2025
Cool School Principal: Dr. Tamela Brown
They call her an exceptional leader. Staff and students at Learn 4 Life in North Charleston say their principal, Dr. Tamela Brown's incredible leadership, dedication, and passion for education is contagious. She's our Cool School Principal of the week. They say under Brown's guidance, the unique school has developed a nurturing environment that supports academic success as well as personal growth.
For the last three years, Dr. Tamela Brown has served as principal at Learn 4 Life High School in North Charleston. 'Learn for Life is a Charter High school. It is an opportunity to change their stories for students for whatever reason need something different than the traditional public schools. Students who had significant barriers, students that need more personalized learning, one-on-one instructional approach, and an opportunity to be seen and heard so they can be successful,' says Dr. Brown.
Learn 4 Life is a part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The school has been in Charleston for four years, but the model has been around for more than twenty years in California. Brown says, 'We give our students a lot of voice and choice, and so they really direct their learning. They are self-paced. They determine when they are going to finish a class, what class they are going to take, and how they want to learn.'
Learn 4 Life Charleston has 167 students in 9th -12th grade, ages 14- 21. Students have a flexible schedule. They attend class four hours a day from 8 a.m. to noon or 12:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday. They learn from home on Fridays with online support and can still participate in extra-curricular activities at their home schools. Dr. Brown says, 'Our students are graduating. They are coming – some of them out of a time where they have been away from education a few years, didn't return after Covid. Some of them are teen parents. They bring their children right to school and take them right to class with them. Our students, some of them have had challenges, and difficulties academically and instructionally, some of them just needed a smaller setting, and they are graduating. They have not given up, and that is what our success is about. When we're able to take someone who was discouraged and didn't know if they can make it and they make it.'Since her time at Learn 4 Life, 52 students have graduated. 'We have some students who participate in the CTE program, so they have certifications, and they are ready to go right to work. We have some students that are looking at a university, some of them have gone to Trident. We do a dual enrollment program with Trident here as well, some of our students are looking at the military,' says Brown.
Dr. Brown has 14 teachers and support staff. She describes her leadership style. 'I'm truly a leader, not a manager. I'm a servant leader, so I want to make sure that the folks I work with are taken care of, that their humanity is honored. We do our job and work really really hard but honor the humanity of who they are. We're family-friendly here. We support our staff, and they have a lot of voice and autonomy.'
Parent Sharon Rivera-Doublin works at the school as a teacher's aid and MLP coordinator. She says Dr. Brown has the ability to motivate and inspire those around her. 'I have not met a person like Dr. Brown. When it comes down to education, someone who has genuine intentions as far as the children goes to help them achieve their goals. She always goes above and beyond for the children and families. She is making a difference.'
Senior Ariana Mulligan says, 'That's my lady man. I love her so much. She helped me out a lot on personal occasions and school occasions. The way she communicates with me. She has a special way of talking, understanding, and following through with what she said. She's like my second mom in that aspect. She's too cool. She's funny. She makes me laugh all the time all day long.'
Senior Josue Mendez says, 'She's very cool. She always smiles to us and gives five to us. She makes me excited to be in school. Thank you, Ms. Brown, for helping us to be in this school.'
From Michigan, Dr. Brown majored in bio-medical sciences at Western Michigan University but got her doctorate in educational leadership. During her childhood. She says her family struggled financially, but her teachers instilled in her the power to believe in herself, despite her circumstances. Dr. Brown says she wanted to pass that gift she was given along to students. 'They believed in me, and it didn't matter where I came from, and it didn't matter what my history was and what my family situation was. They taught me that I could make it, and I could be anything. Because education had an impact on me in that way, and those teachers were so pivotal in my life, it just makes me feel alive to support students in that way. Every child needs someone to believe in them that way until they can believe in themselves. It is definitely a calling.'
If you would like to nominate a Cool School, teacher, or principal, send an email to Octavia Mitchell at omitchell@
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