September 20, 2007
New principal to district has great potential
CORINNE GRIFFITHS
ON CAMPUS
I was fortunate enough to cover the newly built Lakeview Elementary a couple years ago when it opened.
Principal Helen Kinsey was the perfect person to open such a fabulous school.
When Kinsey announced her retirement, there was a need to fill her shoes with the same caring and positive leadership.
With Lakeview’s new principal, Patrick Brown, this need was met!
I talked with Brown during his busy pre-opening week but did not find him frazzled and nervous, as most educators are during this time. Instead, I found a happy, easy-toapproach gentleman, who feels blessed indeed to have been placed at such a beautiful school with such a supportive community.
Although Brown is new to our district, he is not new to the area.
He grew up in Tustin and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from California State Fullerton.
He received his master’s degree in Educational Administration and his administration credential from Azusa Pacific University.
He began his teaching career in the Simi Valley Unified School District as the music teacher at one of the junior highs.
After two years, he moved to the Lowell Joint School District near Whittier, where he was an itinerant music teacher to six schools for kids from fifth through eighth grade.
During his 18 years in that district he also served as assistant principal at Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate School for three and a half years and then served as principal of Jordan Elementary School for three and a half years.
He heard about a need for a new principal in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District from a family friend and immediately turned in the application.
He said the interview process was fantastic and that he thoroughly enjoyed himself.
During the second round of interviews, he spoke with the assistant superintendents.
Last June, before school was out, PYLUSD Director of Personnel Bill Cline called him and told him the good news.
“I was thrilled!” Brown said. “I went down and signed all the paper work the next day.”
When a good principal leaves a school, it is a sad day for everyone. Jordan Elementary School felt that way. They threw him a going away party and all the teachers and support staff came to bid him a fond farewell.
When I asked Brown what his first impression of Lakeview Elementary School was, he said he thought to himself, “How did I land here?”
After the initial shock of such a state-of-the-art campus, it was easy for him to say, “I am absolutely loving it.”
“The people are friendly, competent and kind,” he shared with me. “There is a team spirit and it is all about the kids.”
His goals for Lakeview are to continue the success that Lakeview has had so far.
He is anxious to learn about the community and the students. “I want to see what else we can do to make it the best place for our kids.”
It is apparent that he loves kids and enjoys working with his teachers.
He comes from a family of teachers.
His father was a high school teacher for 40 years and his mother was a primary grade teacher.
One of his three sisters is an elementary teacher, as well.
He is happily married to his wife, Janet. They have one son named Brian who is 10 and a fifth-grader.
They have a daughter Christine who is 8 and is in second grade. Brian loves baseball and Christine loves horses.
They also have a 5-year-old daughter named Hanna who is in preschool. They live in Anaheim Hills.
Brown manages to find time to coach baseball for his son Brian.
He also helps Brian with his trumpet lessons. His kids are also into ice skating and Brown enjoys taking them to their lessons.
The whole family loves to go camping and to fish.
And, if there is any time left over, Brown says he enjoys reading “about any sporting event known to man!”
Yes, I think Lakeview is in great hands. Patrick Brown is one of those who will be a beloved teacher/principal of many students and teachers.
Corinne Griffiths, a retired sixthgrade teacher from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, covers our students’ accomplishments. Fax items to 714-970-1525 or e-mail to CorinneEscobar@Griffiths.net.