Name: Benjamin Cozelle Dunn

Title: CEO

Organisation: Brookshire International Academy/Education Success Foundation

I have dedicated the last 20 plus years dedicated to our mission of eliminating generational poverty one student at a time.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Educational Leadership!

I hope Benjamin's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as an Educational Leader?

Finding poeple who understand and believe in our mission who have the ability and willingness to assist us toward our goals.

2. How did you become an Educational Leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

As I began to see the world around me changing in some very concerning ways, I made a decision to find a way to help stop or at least slow down the change. The fear for me was getting older and no one being able to run the world I would be living in. I founded Brookshire and the Education Success Foundation with a group of like minded people.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I get up in the morning around 6AM to see my teenager off to school and my wife off to her job at the UNLV School of Medicine. Then I pray about the day that I will face. When I arrive at my desk I spend the majority of my day focused on engaging staff and students in finding their success of the day. Celebrating each success by anoyone is always the joy I want for our institution.

4. What's a recent lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of as an Educational Leader?

I recently had to be reminded that though I may know how things are and why, if I fail to properly convey the why, it can cause great confusion for staff and students.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your journey as an Educational Leader so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted you?

The Art of the Deal has been of great value to me in learning ways to convince both staff and students of their true potential when following rules and expectations.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young educator who aspires to be an Educational Leader, what would you say to them?

The moment you lose your passion for educating, PLEASE find someone to step in for you and find a new passion. I see way too many burnt out educators who cause more harm than good. Find an amazing mentor who can hold you accountable for your passion.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as an Educational Leader, so far?

My favorite student story was of the 84 year old successful lady who came to my office and told me she needed to enroll in school to earn her diploma. She explained to me that she had grandchildren and great-grandchildren using her lack of a diploma and success in life as an excuse to drop out of high school. Upon earning her diploma and the statemtn she made at the ceremony to the front 2 rows of the auditorium filled with her family, My passion was cemented forever.