Meet the 2020-2021 Hope Leadership Academy Facilitators
The Hope Institute is lucky to have four incredible Facilitators on board to partner with all schools participating in the Hope Leadership Academy for 2020-2021.
We are proud to introduce each one of them.
Brian Cain will be facilitating Year 1 Birmingham this year. Brian taught math and psychology before spending 18 years as an administrator in Hoover and retiring in 2019. His most recent position was Principal and Simmons Middle School.
Debra Harvel Kreps will facilitate our new location, Year 1 North Alabama. Debra spent over 30 years in schools, including time as a teacher, counselor and assistant principal before retiring from Hartselle Intermediate School in summer 2020.
Dr. Patricia Simpson is our Year 2 Birmingham facilitator. Patricia retired in 2016 after 9 years as principal of Edgewood Elementary. Prior to that, she spent 27 years in various roles including Kindergarten teacher, Technology Coordinator and Assistant Principal.
Kay Kay Criss is our Year 2 Tuscaloosa facilitator. Kay Kay is a a retired educator who served in the Tuscaloosa School System for 26 years. Kay Kay retired from her principal role in summer 2019 and held a variety of other roles throughout her career including assistant principal, instructional coach and classroom teacher of almost every grade K-6.
Our facilitators have shared their answers to a few questions to help you learn a little more about them. Find their answers below:
What drew you to this work?
Patricia Simpson: As a child I was impressed by the schoolteachers in my church and neighborhood who were routinely called upon to read and write for those with literacy challenges. I vividly recall the academic support they provided to the neighborhood in 1965 as African Americans prepared to exercise their right to vote for the first time. Secondly, my mother regularly quilted with several ladies in our community. All were extremely wise, poised, and accomplished within any household; however, none could read fluently. During my fourth grade year, I made a deal with these talented domestic engineers – they would teach me to quilt and I would teach them to read. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Yvonne Green, provided me with take-home flash cards and I made my first attempt at “teaching”. I never stopped.
Debra Harvel Kreps: I have always wanted to "make a difference". Working in education puts you in a position to make a difference in the lives of children as they develop and help their parents/guardians as well. I love helping children see their strengths and find ways to handle challenges they face.
What is the best part of the facilitator role OR what are you most looking forward to about the facilitator work this year?
Brian Cain: The two best parts of being a facilitator are: 1. Getting to work with experts in the field of character development 2. Getting to work with schools and help them as they grow and improve.
Kay Kay Criss: I believe with all of heart that building strong school family relationships and creating a quality character plan in school could result a positive change in our world.
What sets a school with character built into the culture apart from other schools?
Debra Harvel Kreps: I think schools that have a culture of character have stronger relationships between faculty, staff, students, their families and the community. Students take ownership of their learning and support one another to achieve goals. Students also have leadership opportunities and work together to improve the school and help with identified needs of students and people in the community.
Kay Kay Criss: A difference maker I have noticed in many schools that have participated in Hope Academies is their use of a school family created Touchstone. A Touchstone that is embedding throughout all areas of their school. You are see it visually around the school, you can hear it in conversations, you see people using it to make decisions. A Touchstone creates a firm foundation of Character in schools.
Brian Cain: The schools that make character a true culture focus seem to get “it.” That “it” is the realization that schools can play an integral role in the social and emotional development of not only everyone in the building, but the community at large also. Thus, they do not let anything get in the way of their mission to improve the culture and climate of their school as it pertains to character development.
Patricia Simpson: A school that builds its own culture of character reaps rewards of authentic response; students acknowledge intrinsic reward, students make choices based on principle, students honor each other’s feelings, adults guide life lessons. Additionally, everyone feels a sense of ownership, personal belonging and takes responsibility to maintain their naturalized atmosphere.
What is your favorite quote or book about character development?
Debra Harvel Kreps: “When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl
Kay Kay Criss: “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” -John Maxwell
Brian Cain: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” – Chinese proverb
Patricia Simpson: In his book Eight Habits of the Heart, Clifton Taulbert identifies “Hope” as the eighth habit. Taulbert’s words remind me of the educators from my childhood; teachers who offered hope by lending academic support to anyone in need.