Janella Brand - Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

From the Head of School Alpha omega - Class of ’08
A Fond Farwell to Janella Brand
Thursday, April 24 was Alpha Omega Day
at Holy Innocents’ sponsored by The Office
of Alumni Relations and Development. The
36 Alpha Omegas (listed below) were first
celebrated with their faculty members at
the Ice Cream Social in Porter Dining Hall.
The students were welcomed to the event
with photo buttons featuring their first grade
pictures.
The next event was dinner at Maggiano’s
Little Italy at Perimeter with parents,
faculty, staff, and friends. The Director
of Alumni Relations and Special Events,
Tamika Weaver-Hightower, presented each
student with a lapel pin to be worn on their
graduation gowns. The program ended with
a slideshow of the students’ Holy Innocents’
memories.
One of the joys of my first
five years at Holy Innocents’
has been my occasional
visits to the Pre-School
morning carpool. It is a
wonderful way to connect
with our young families,
many of whom will be with
us for years to come. Each
carpool brings with it a
parade of pets, all styles
of pajamas on younger
siblings, mostly smiling
student faces (with a few
future “night owls” having
a difficult time getting an
early start), and a lot of
laughs. On the first day of
school after a long summer,
one Kindergartener jumped
out of his car, looked up at
me with his head cocked
quizzically to one side
and asked, “Are you still the Head of the
school” There are always surprises on the
Pre-School carpool line.
As much as I love seeing the children,
I must admit that just as great a pleasure
is the carpool time I spend with Janella
Brand. I haven’t yet allowed myself to
think about next year’s carpool without her
loving, comforting presence. Janella will
be retiring this June after 31 years at HIES,
first as a 2nd grade teacher, then Lower
School Assistant Principal, and for the past
ten as Principal of the Pre-School. Many
of our faculty and parents were students
of Janella’s. Her imprint is everywhere on
campus.
When I first came to HIES in 2003,
Janella was in her sixth year as Pre-School
Principal. She had been instrumental in
attracting funding for the new Alan A. Lewis
Pre-School building, and her input was
crucial in finalizing the plans that led to its
wonderfully child-centered design. Janella
was also the school’s unofficial “Guardian of
the Philosophy” (as Dorothy Sullivan fondly
referred to her). Janella chaired a committee
that met several times each year to discuss
the ways we upheld the tenets of our
Statement of Philosophy (a document that
has since been revised with extensive input
from Janella). The school’s mission, at that
point, was assuredly in her capable hands.
With Janella, all seems serenely secure.
Janella Brand is also a passionate public
servant. She has been deeply involved
at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church for
years and has inspired many with her grace
in meeting the needs of others. About
two years ago, Janella and her husband
Lee returned from a vacation in Costa
Rica. When most people return from such
a trip they tell tales of surf lessons and
rain forest treks. Janella, however, spoke
enthusiastically about a school she had
encountered. She and Lee had gotten to
know a man named Harry Bodaan, the
owner of their hotel, who told them about
a school in the nearby village of Quepos
that needed lots of help. Janella spoke
earnestly of the beautiful students in Escuela
de Estadio, studying hard day after day in
abject conditions. She was determined to
help. And when Janella puts her mind to
something…
A year later, because of Janella’s
determined leadership, the Pre-School
had gathered over 600
pounds of supplies for
Escuela de Estadio. The
children wrote letters
to the students and
Janella even contacted
administrators at UPS to
facilitate the process of
shipping this enormous
bundle of school supplies
to Costa Rica. All in all it
was a monumental task
pulled off with the unique
blend of patience and
efficiency we’ve all come
to expect of Janella. She
was fueled by her passion
for children and her faith
that God wants all of us
to serve those in need.
Janella’s passion inspired
us to reach out to the
people of Costa Rica and
led to our contact with EARTH University
near the capital of San Jose. Recently, a
dozen Upper School students spent their
spring break teaching elementary school
students from some of the poorest schools
near EARTH University.
Janella will fill her retirement by spending
time with her husband, her grown daughter
Jenny and her dog, Delilah. She will also
devote more time to her volunteer pursuits
as she explores new and varied ways to
impact the lives of children - whether in
Sandy Springs or Costa Rica. In short, she
will continue being her altruistic, loving self.
Her world will continue to be filled with the
many blessings that come from a generous
spirit.
Above all else, Janella will be remembered
for her absolute love for her students. She
begins each day at the Pre-School by
signing on over the intercom, broadcasting
her daily prayer into each classroom,
“Good morning, boys and girls. This is your
Principal, Mrs. Brand.” Those words will
forever echo through the hallways of the
Pre-School, as will Janella’s loving care for
all who entered there. She will be greatly
missed. We wish her a fond farewell.
Sarah Allen
Caroline Anderson
Jack Austin
Michael Bird
Sarah Bissell
Kirsten Boe
Chelsea Brogdon
Kate Decker
Bailey Evans
Kelly Garrison
Philip Georgakakos
Trevor Gillum
Fletcher Hawkins
Christopher Herbert
Bentley Heyman
Caitlin Hogan
Emily Hovis
Tim Kovacs
Lilly Landskroener
Carly Loux
Kerry Martin
Arden McClain
John McGoogan
Matthew McMillan
Ali McWhirter
Norma Nyhoff
Lauren Danielle Ouellette
Kyle Strait
Rachel Sullivan
Katherine Tate
Carlee Terrell
Christopher Thomas
Michael Vaughan
Colleen Weaver
Virginia West
Rachael Windler
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