There will be plenty more memorable moments to come, but two-plus months into BRIAN BRINK‘s tenure as superintendent of Unity schools, one highlight stands above the rest.
“Definitely taking first-day-of-school pictures with my children,” he says. “It was special because, for the first time, we were all headed to the same place — me to my new role and them to their new schools.”
Beckham Brink is a freshman at Unity High School, Blythe a fifth-grader at Unity East Elementary. Mom Jessica works from the family’s new Philo home for World Wide Technology. And dad’s the new district boss, succeeding 14-year superintendent Andy Larson.
A lifelong Illini fan and season-ticket holder, Brink spent the past five years heading up the small southern Illinois elementary district of Tamaroa.
The Centralia native, whose family also includes Chewy and Simba the dogs, took time out to answer questions from Editor Jeff D’Alessio in the 248th installment of our weekly speed read spotlighting leaders of organizations big and small.
The first thing I do when I get to work most days is … also my favorite part of every day — greeting students as they enter one of our buildings.
It’s a wonderful way to connect with them right from the start, setting a positive tone for the day for both the students and myself.
My professional role model is ... my dad. No explanation needed.
On my office walls, you’ll find … the first three Unity High School state title banners, all from 2015 — boys and girls cross country and track.
My philosophy on meetings is … to keep them meaningful and to the point. I like to have a clear plan in place so everyone knows what we’re there to accomplish, but I also make sure there’s room for everyone to speak up and share their ideas.
It’s all about making sure we’re using our time wisely and everyone leaves feeling heard and clear about what’s next.
The hardest thing about being a leader is … balancing the big picture with the day-to-day details. It’s challenging to ensure that we’re moving forward with our long-term goals while addressing immediate needs and concerns.
The three adjectives I hope my staff would use to describe me are …approachable, supportive and fair.
If I could trade places for a week with any other business person in town, I wouldn’t mind switching with … Josh Whitman, the athletic director at Illinois. The role combines leadership with the dynamic world of sports, which I find incredibly exciting.
It would be fascinating to experience how he manages both the business and athletic challenges, and to see the impact of sports programs on student development firsthand.
My one unbreakable rule of the workplace is … to always prioritize what’s best for the kids. Every decision we make, every strategy we implement should be centered around enhancing their educational experience and well-being.
It’s the foundation of why we do what we do.
The single-most important question I ask job candidates during interviews is … tell me what you know about us.
This question reveals not just their preparedness for the interview, but also their genuine interest and understanding of our district’s values, culture and goals.
It helps gauge how well they might fit and contribute to our community.
I can’t live without my … morning routine. It’s a mix of a little quiet time, a strong cup of coffee and a quick review of the day’s agenda.
For lunch … I like to head home — it’s just an eight-minute drive. This gives me a chance to step away from the office, recharge a bit and let the dogs out.
It’s a nice break in the middle of the day that keeps me refreshed for the afternoon
I wind down after work by … getting active, which depends on the weather. When it’s nice out, I love going for a bike ride — it’s a great way to clear my mind and enjoy the outdoors.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, I switch to lifting weights indoors.
Either way, it’s my go-to method to relax and recharge after a busy day.
The last luxury in which I indulged was … a trip to Europe with my wife and our kids. which included attending the Olympics in Paris. We also visited London, Brussels and Amsterdam.
It was a blast — lots of sports, cool sights and great times hanging out with the kids.
The most beneficial college class I took was … Leadership Theory and Practice at McKendree University. It wasn’t just the content that was useful — it gave me a solid foundation in different leadership styles and when to apply them.
What really made the class stand out was how it tied those theories into real-world scenarios, which has been incredibly useful in every leadership role I’ve taken on since.
The last good book I read was … “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music,” by Dave Grohl, which is his autobiography.
I’m up and at ’em every day by … 6:30 a.m. during the work week, 8 a.m. on the weekend.
As far as my career calling goes … I knew I wanted to be a P.E. teacher back in high school. It was the perfect mix of my love for sports and teaching.
It wasn’t until later, though, that I realized I wanted to be a school administrator. That moment came when I saw just how much impact they can have, not just on individual students, but on the entire school community.
It was clear that this was a way I could make a bigger difference.