Principal's Office

Brown, who has been the principal at I.S. 252 for three years, was born in Jamaica and went to community schools there before attending the University of West Indies. She came to America in 1984 and went to Brooklyn College, where she received her degree in reading/literature. She then began substitute teaching in Districts 17 and 18, teaching at Public Schools 167 and 241. She also taught language arts, reading and was a staff developer at Winthrop Intermediate School.

"I helped many immigrant students from the Caribbean while teaching limited English proficiency classes at other schools, so I understand where the students of this school are coming from," said Brown. "I want parents to know that the culture of I.S. 252 has changed in recent years and I have high expectations of our students to always move forward."

Brown said all she ever wanted to do was work with children and she attributes many of the school's achievements through the years to her strong student/staff support team.

"Some of the teachers here have a wide range of talents that can be tapped into," she said. "For example, we have teachers instructing performing arts classes - and I think you have to have the arts to make school interesting to students."

Changes that the school has undergone since her administration include the availability of preparation courses for specialized high schools and an increase in student trips, which Brown said helps expose children to more activities outside of the classroom.

Brown, who resided in Ditmas Park before moving to Canarsie ten years ago, has various interests when school is not in session. She enjoys cooking and reading and is very active in her church.

Faith, she said, is an element that has helped motivate her in her career. After working in the school system she would like to go into the ministry. "I've always felt that there was a call in life for me to be a minister," she said.

Brown has two grown children, ages 25 and 20, and still has "much to accomplish," she says, at I.S. 252. She has applied for grants so college courses can be available to her students.

"I always remind my staff that we have to support our children so they can look forward to coming to school," she said. "And I tell teachers to think back to when they were younger and in school - because sometimes they forget what it's like to be a teenager and I don't think we're so much different from the kids today."