A former history teacher and coach, Justin Brandon has held leadership roles at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA, Moorestown Friends School in Moorestown, NJ, and was associate head of school at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives to strengthen academic programs, support faculty development, and advance equity and inclusion. Mr. Brandon now serves as Head of School at George School in Newtown, PA.
HOW DID RIVERDALE SHAPE WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
I started at Riverdale in 3rd grade following my sister, Nikki Brandon Harris ’91. I had several opportunities to visit Riverdale to watch her games before I joined the community. Many people referred to me as Nikki’s little brother throughout my time in Lower School.
I remember walking into a classroom on my first day of School at Riverdale and immediately being greeted by Mrs. Mendez. She was warm and welcoming as I was one of a handful of students of color in the grade. She created a space for us to be curious and respectful. That level of support and care continued throughout my time. I felt I could speak with many members of the staff and faculty around campus.
I was fortunate to have many great teachers and staff members who both challenged and supported me during my time at Riverdale. When I was in Middle School, I met Milton Sipp at the beginning of his tenure at Riverdale. At the time, he may have been the only administrator of color at the School. I connected with him immediately, talking about life, sports, and school. He had an open-door policy and always created space for me to talk or process anything.
I appreciated the variety of experiences I was exposed to, such as joining the 4th grade choir to perform at the 75th anniversary of Tiffany and Co., where I met Jim Henson; visiting the Russian Embassy in 7th grade; attending Bar and Bat Mitzvahs; our 7th vs. 8th grade rivalry in sports; rides on our Supertrans yellow bus to School and home; the 75-minute bus and subway ride when I missed the shuttle to School; informative assemblies; clubs that allowed us to reflect on difficult topics; One World Week; Homecoming; Chef Paul’s bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches that may have made me late to class on a few occasions; hosting track meets on the cinder track that went from four lanes to two lanes on the turns; going to Glens Falls for the state basketball tournament; and winning the Buzzell Game in my senior year.
The educational experiences at Riverdale, in and out of the classroom, continue to impact me. Our faculty created electives that challenged us to think critically. Integrated Liberal Studies helped me make connections across curricula, and yes, I still remember my final oral exam. I vividly remember how our teachers used New York City as our classroom in projects like the 6th grade “Concrete Garden” project on the Brooklyn Bridge, which made the material more accessible. Everything I experienced in the classroom prepared me for my experiences in college and graduate school.
I would be remiss if I did not mention how Riverdale supported me when my mother passed away in March of my junior year. It was a very difficult time in my life because she was in and out of the hospital, starting when I was in 9th grade. I cannot thank the community enough for how they rallied around me, supported me, and gave me what I now refer to as an “independent school hug” of care.
The friendships, connections, and lessons learned during my time on both campuses shaped me and taught me life lessons. RCS will always have a special place in my heart.
WHAT WAS YOUR PATH AFTER RIVERDALE?
My experiences at Riverdale prepared me to take advantage of all that college could offer. I attended Macalester College, where I majored in Political Science and designed a major in African American Studies. I was very active during my time at Macalester. I spent a semester in Australia where I studied Australian politics and Aboriginal culture; I wrote for the college newspaper; started a tutoring program for underserved elementary school students; was a member of the track and field team; had a radio show with a friend who attended Hackley; oversaw off-campus tutoring programs, and was active in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and multiple cultural organizations. I remain active with Macalester, having served as the president of the Alumni Board, a representative on the Board of Trustees, and now as a member of the Athletic Director’s Advisory Group. I decided to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota after teaching for three years. I earned an MA in Educational Policy and Administration. I have been in independent school education for my entire professional career. I began my career as an intern at Culver Academy, then held a variety of roles (history teacher, coach, advisor, director of diversity, form dean, head of Upper School, associate head of school) at independent schools throughout the country. Currently, I am in my first year as the head of school at George School, an all-gender Quaker boarding and day high school.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEADER?
There will be times when you are challenged throughout your career/life, and during those times, it is important for you to reflect on the situation and to know your worth to determine how to move forward. As my career continues, I have been reminded how important it is to pay it forward, open the doors for others, and become a mentor.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR A FELLOW RIVERDALIAN?
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Find a mentor who can be honest with you and advise you on areas of growth. Create a professional development map for your career and where you want to be in 10 years. Read as many articles and books about the industry as you can. Shadow people who have the job that you want to understand how the position functions and think about what skills and experiences you need to make you a competitive and knowledgeable candidate in the future.
WHAT CURRENT PROJECTS EXCITE YOU?
We are working on creating spaces and opportunities for students to be in community with one another as we discuss the importance of listening to each other and teaching the difference between dialogue and debate. We feel these skills are very important in today’s climate. We are also in the process of preparing our campus for construction that will enhance the experiences of our community members.
This has been a great year of listening and learning about George School history, traditions, and hopes for the future. I look forward to continuing the work of supporting our faculty and staff and meeting our students where they are, guided by our mission and values.