Sweetwater Schools Chief Dr. Edward Brand Named Superintendent of the Year

The California League of Middle Schools, Region 9, has bestowed Sweetwater’s top administrator Dr. Edward Brand the Superintendent of the Year Award for 2004 for his lifetime achievement and contribution for middle level education, teachers and schools.

Noting that Dr. Brand’s “passion for what you do, and for middle level students is obvious in every aspect of your work,” officials said that he exemplified educational excellence and has made significant efforts to implement elements of educational reform in the middle school. Dr. Brand is a finalist for the organization’s Middle Level Educator of the Year.

Nine years ago, Dr. Brand became the educational leader for the Sweetwater Union High School District, California’s largest secondary district with 29 schools located in the urban corridor between downtown San Diego and the international border with Mexico. With an 69% Latino population, and many new immigrants and English language learners, Dr. Brand initiated a decade of reform that caught the eye of key educators dedicated to the middle school reform movement.

“Dr. Brand has accomplished great things for middle school students who enter our district,” said Sweetwater District Board President Pearl Quiñones. “Eighty-five percent of eighth graders meet the demanding requirements for promotion to the ninth grade.”

Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Ed Brand said that middle school students have it tough enough as adolescents.

“We’ve tried to personalize the learning environment and connect students to school. We’ve made every effort to close gaps in students’ mastery of standards so they can acquire grade-level skills as quickly as possible,” he added.

It’s these efforts that have paid off. All Sweetwater middle schools made dramatic gains in the state’s Academic Performance Index. In fact, EastLake middle school reached the 800 level benchmark.

Under Dr. Brand’s leadership Sweetwater implemented intervention academies that provide accelerated learning at several middle schools. Dr. Brand has gained national recognition for his leadership and innovation for the Compact for Success—curriculum reform and college prep to increase the number of students currently underrepresented in four-year universities. Sweetwater starts promoting college in the 7th grade and informing parents about entrance requirements.

As part of the Compact San Diego State University is guaranteeing admission for Sweetwater students who meet the A-G college admission requirements and college entrance exams.

Taking his philosophy countywide, Dr. Brand chaired the Achievement Gap Task Force to change practices in mathematics in all 42 San Diego County districts.

An extraordinary leader, Dr. Brand has been named as Superintendent of the Year by several prestigious organizations. These include American Association of School Administrators, California School Leadership Academy, Association of California School Administrators, Region 18 and the California League of High Schools.

A former Sweetwater teacher, Dr. Brand’s optimism and keen eye for leadership direction help drive the 69,000-student system to continuous improvement and achievement. He received his B.A. from California Western University and his doctorate from United States International University, now known as Alliant International University.

Dr. Brand will receive the award on December 6, 2004 at the Educator of the Year dinner in San Diego.