Brian Patrick, the Principal of the Willoughby-Eastlake School of Innovation is a 1988 graduate of North High School. On Monday, October 19, 2015, Mr. Patrick came to North High to talk about careers in education. Despite the terrible turnout of North students, he still had an amazing presentation.
Mr. Patrick was not the hardworking student that most would expect from a Principal. In fact, didn’t apply himself much at all. He didn’t like school, but was lucky enough to have two teachers who cared enough to help him succeed and played varsity soccer. He graduated North High School with a 4.0 GPA. He went on to Ohio State University, but flunked out and had to move back in with his parents. He worked for a while to make money and was took the opportunity to coach girls soccer at North.
His girlfriend at the time (who is now his wife) told him, during a date, that he had to go back to school if he wanted a future. That same night, his mom told him the same thing. He went to CSU and took a survey class, the smartest thing he did in relation to his education, and along with that and his love for coaching he decided what he wanted to do.
As soon as he realized he wanted to teach, he knew he had to work in W-E Schools. He got a job at Willowick Middle School and was soon confronted by the middle school Assistant Principle. He told Mr. Patrick that he would make a great administrator. He could tell Mr. Patrick cared about the kids and that he could make a difference in the children’s lives.
When Mr. Patrick found out he could help kids more as a principle than as a teacher he went back to school. He took his administrator courses at Ashland University. To him, being a principle was making a difference. HE said, “Teaching found him, but he found administration.”
For those who were there to learn about a future in teaching (which were few), Mr. Patrick gave important advice. “Teaching is hard. You have to make kids learn stuff they don’t want to learn.” He also said, as someone who has to hire and fire, “Honest, genuine, hardworking, and wanting to make a difference will get you hired.”
Mr. Patrick gave a lot of important information about careers in education and did do in a fun interactive way. Those who attended played a game, watched a Soul Pancake video about teaching, and even watched a Key and Peele episode about teaching.
The best advice he gave was “Do as I say, not as I did.” Mr. Patrick now lives in Willowick with his wife and three kids. He enjoys every minute of being a principle, especially at the new STEM school and in Willoughby-Eastlake School District.
Mr. Patrick was not the hardworking student that most would expect from a Principal. In fact, didn’t apply himself much at all. He didn’t like school, but was lucky enough to have two teachers who cared enough to help him succeed and played varsity soccer. He graduated North High School with a 4.0 GPA. He went on to Ohio State University, but flunked out and had to move back in with his parents. He worked for a while to make money and was took the opportunity to coach girls soccer at North.
His girlfriend at the time (who is now his wife) told him, during a date, that he had to go back to school if he wanted a future. That same night, his mom told him the same thing. He went to CSU and took a survey class, the smartest thing he did in relation to his education, and along with that and his love for coaching he decided what he wanted to do.
As soon as he realized he wanted to teach, he knew he had to work in W-E Schools. He got a job at Willowick Middle School and was soon confronted by the middle school Assistant Principle. He told Mr. Patrick that he would make a great administrator. He could tell Mr. Patrick cared about the kids and that he could make a difference in the children’s lives.
When Mr. Patrick found out he could help kids more as a principle than as a teacher he went back to school. He took his administrator courses at Ashland University. To him, being a principle was making a difference. HE said, “Teaching found him, but he found administration.”
For those who were there to learn about a future in teaching (which were few), Mr. Patrick gave important advice. “Teaching is hard. You have to make kids learn stuff they don’t want to learn.” He also said, as someone who has to hire and fire, “Honest, genuine, hardworking, and wanting to make a difference will get you hired.”
Mr. Patrick gave a lot of important information about careers in education and did do in a fun interactive way. Those who attended played a game, watched a Soul Pancake video about teaching, and even watched a Key and Peele episode about teaching.
The best advice he gave was “Do as I say, not as I did.” Mr. Patrick now lives in Willowick with his wife and three kids. He enjoys every minute of being a principle, especially at the new STEM school and in Willoughby-Eastlake School District.