Building Equitable Schools With SEL, Trauma-Responsive and Restorative Practices

Dr. Brenda (Bren) Elliott has vast experience successfully leading district-wide transformation that leads to improved student outcomes. She has 30 years of experience as an educational leader serving in school districts in Tennessee, North Carolina and Washington, DC. Dr. Elliott is an innovative systems-thinker and has served in public education in various assignments including State Turnaround Superintendent, Chief of School Improvement & Supports, Chief Equity Officer, Director for High Priority Schools Advocacy, Area Director, High School and Middle School Principal, and High School Teacher.

Dr. Elliott’s dissertation, “District-Level Equity Leaders’ Approaches to Addressing the Racial Achievement Gap Between Black and White Students in Urban Public Schools”, resulted in her receiving the James Surratt Outstanding Doctoral Student Award from High Point University. She has presented nationally at various conferences including ASCD, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE), National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), Education Commission of the States, as well as speaking on Capitol Hill. Most recently, she co-authored the book, The Antiracist Roadmap to Educational Equity: A Systemwide Approach for All Stakeholders and continues to support school districts in implementing practices that increase access and achievement for students furthest from opportunity.

Bren has received numerous awards to include the AASA Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award (2023), CiViL Group Service-Learning Award Recipient (2018), National Youth Leadership Council’s Bernard Gill Urban Service-Learning Award (2014), and The Academies of Nashville’s CEO Champion’s Award (2011), National Association of Black School Educators’ Principal of the Year (2004), and Teacher of the Year (Pearl Cohn High School, 1999).

Bren is a veteran and served her country proudly for more than ten years as a military officer in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. She cites as the major contributors to her success, a strong belief that students can and want to succeed and purposefully working to build a team of educators, students, parents and community members who believe the same.