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Brandon Valley speakers praise Dr. Amanda Nelson’s leadership at middle school
Summary
Multiple staff and parents told the Brandon Valley School Board that Dr. Amanda Nelson and assistant Ms. Hoff have rebuilt morale and improved student supports at Brandon Valley Middle School, citing student assessments and hands-on advocacy.
Community members and teachers used public comment at a Brandon Valley School Board meeting to urge the district to keep a leadership team they credited with stabilizing the middle school and supporting vulnerable students.
Tyler Basey, a special education teacher at Brandon Valley Middle School, said Dr. Nelson and Ms. Hoff ‘‘have shown that we’re not just staff members, we’re people they truly care about’’ and praised the pair for creating ‘‘a place where students feel safe and are able to grow.’’ Miranda Basey, who identified herself as an elected official and Brandon Valley alumnus, described the district’s support as ‘‘monumental’’ for her family when her husband returned to teaching. Amanda Button, a 15-year educator, said Dr. Nelson ‘‘deeply understands this developmental stage’’ and highlighted the principal’s focus on advocacy and individualized support for students.
Several speakers emphasized Dr. Amanda Nelson’s work on assessments and supports for students with special needs. Anna Tassad, the Aspire special education teacher at the middle school, described Dr. Nelson’s role in facilitating formal assessments and said the principal ‘‘meets each student where they are’’ and supports staff in developing programs. Parent Shelley Boosman read a letter outlining her daughter’s assessment and diagnosis (ADHD and level one autism) and credited Dr. Nelson’s involvement with the student’s academic and emotional turnaround.
The board thanked those who spoke and reminded attendees that personnel matters are handled through the district grievance policy and are not appropriate for open-session personnel decisions. The public comments took place near the start of the meeting before routine business and votes on contracts, wages and finance items.
Next steps noted by district leadership include a preliminary budget to be presented in May and a formal budget hearing with potential action in July. The district also announced an employee recognition banquet scheduled for May 5 at 6:00 p.m.
