(Atlantic) On July 1, Dr. James Brauer started his duties as the new Atlantic High School Principal.
In a recent interview with the new principal, Dr. Brauer told KSOM/KS95 News it is an honor and a privilege to serve the Atlantic School System in this capacity. Brauer is no stranger to the school district. Dr. Brauer has served Atlantic High School as an English teacher, Special Education teacher, and member of the Building Leadership Team.
Brauer says he was hoping a leadership opportunity would someday open up in the district, and he knew if it felt right, he would want to throw his hat into the ring.
Dr. Brauer says that through informal conversations with colleagues over the past two weeks, along with the interview process, he has picked up on a yearning for consistency, visibility, and presence, and for letting the staff succeed in what they do by removing any barriers he can.
Over the coming weeks, Dr. Brauer will engage students in open dialogue to better understand the issues and priorities that matter most to them. He hopes to learn what students believe is working well, identify areas that could be improved, and gather their ideas for positive change. Brauer said if he had to take a guess, students want a safe learning environment, to have fun at school, and to feel a sense of purpose.
Dr. Brauer holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration, an Education Specialist degree, a Master of Business Administration, and multiple master’s degrees in education. As Principal of Iowa Connections Academy (CAM), Iowa’s first statewide K-12 virtual public school, Dr. Brauer led the successful launch and growth of an innovative educational model that served students across the state. Dr. Brauer also served as Director of Graduate Education at Avila University, where he led program development, faculty recruitment, curriculum innovation, and strategic planning initiatives.
