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School Principal Loves Her Job

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 24, 2008

BRANDON - It's the end of the school year, but the last thing Brooker Elementary School Principal Julie Lacy wants is for students and parents to think learning is done for summer.

So on Wednesday, Brooker will host a "Make and Take" workshop to help parents plan educational activities for summer vacation.

"Parents don't always know what to do," Lacy said. "They'll go away with ideas for fun learning activities to do with their kids. We can't have them sitting for 11 weeks. We need to exercise our brains."

The initiative supports Lacy's belief that success is defined largely by how much children enjoy learning.

"School is fun," the veteran teacher said. "This staff is so dedicated. The teachers here do anything and everything to make sure kids succeed. You have to have a heart for kids. Children know if you like them and if you believe in them or not. These teachers believe so much."

With 109 staff members, 65 homerooms and nearly 1,000 students, Brooker Elementary - established in 1961 - keeps Lacy engaged and busy.

She works long hours for two reasons: She is committed to excellence and wants to be free to spend as much time as possible during the day with students.

"You have to be there," she said. "They love to share their work. It's our job to spark the excitement, and these kids are so proud of themselves."

Lacy was born in 1960 and grew up in Tampa.

"I attended Forest Hills Elementary, Adams Junior and graduated from Chamberlain High School. I loved business but took an introduction to teaching course and never looked back."

In college, Lacy worked as a teacher's aide with her former second-grade teacher.

"I got to watch a master," she said.

After graduation, she worked at Lanier Elementary School in Tampa, then Cork Elementary School in Plant City and Limona Elementary School in Brandon.

Lacy loved mathematics, took specialist training classes and became involved in math training for the Hillsborough County School District. She also became adept at behavior management, a skill that pays dividends as principal.

"Challenging kids are my favorites," Lacy said. "It's so important to build good relationships."

In the late 1980s, Lacy took five years off to be home with her children while working on her master's degree in educational leadership at the University of South Florida. Then she returned to Limona Elementary, transferred to Lithia Springs Elementary School in Valrico and launched her administration career at Lopez Elementary School in Seffner in 2002 as assistant principal.

After a stint as assistant principal at Graham Elementary School in Tampa, she was hired at Brooker in 2006.

Lacy wishes more people understood how much Hillsborough County school staff and students strive for excellence.

"The extra, the over and above," she said. "I'm proud of our test scores, but it's so much more."

She's also a dedicated mom to daughters Nicole and Jessica. "My children are the best," she said.

And Lacy loves Brandon.

"If I ever leave, it'll be because I moved to the beach," she said. "You can still see the pastures and the hawks. I wish it wasn't so congested, but I go places, and I always run into people. It's this huge family reunion."

Lacy enjoys going to the beach, biking, watching football and barbecuing - "doing what people do," she said. "Life is busy, and my priority is my girls and the school.

"My dad always said, 'If you can't do something and do it to the best of your ability, then don't do it.' Well, I love it. To get up every day and do a job you love to do, it's great."

MEET JULIE LACY

OCCUPATION: Principal, Brooker Elementary School

BORN: Tampa, 1960

EDUCATION: Chamberlain High School, Tampa, 1977; bachelor's degree in education, University of South Florida, 1980; master's in educational leadership, University of South Florida, 1991

MOVED TO BRANDON: 1981

CHILDREN: Nicole, 23; Jessica, 21

CONTACT: (813) 744-8184

SCHOOL MOTTO: TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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