Ronald Brown Academy Gets a Fresh Start With New Principal Edwynn Bell
Principal Edwynn Bell of DPSCD Ronald Brown Academy. Image courtesy of Nicoletta Valenzano
As I sit in a chair in the main office of Ronald Brown Academy waiting for Principal Bell, the room is buzzing with energy. One student is talking with an admin behind the desk as three more walk in, followed by a teacher.
“What’s wrong?” Mr. Bell asks a student sitting next to me. The student goes on to tell him that she needs an ice pack as three others are ushered out of his office by another school employee.
“I’ll be with you in a second,” he says to me, as he directs the student to the school nurse.
At Ronald Brown Academy, Edwynn Bell has just taken over this past January as the new school principal, and while he has his plate full, he has big plans for the future.
As our community school for Pre-K through 8th grade, Ronald Brown Academy has over 850 students enrolled this year and is expected to continue growing.
Deep Roots on the East Side
Principal Bell grew up on the east side of Detroit, attending Gooddale Elementary, before it became Duke Ellington.
“How I came to be a principal was by mistake,” Bell states. “I started off with DPS many years ago as a lunch aide, and one of my mentors saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.”
With over 15 years of experience in the Detroit Public School System, Bell is no stranger to the duties of a principal. Before he came to Ronald Brown, he was a Principal at Burton International Academy, Detroit Collegiate High School, and Detroit Leadership Academy.
“Throughout my whole career as a principal I’ve always wanted to come back to the east side, so when central office contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in coming to Ronald Brown, I said yes,” he says. “This is the community where I used to ride my bike around, where I used to play basketball down the street at Bethany Lutheran, and I actually know some of the scholars' families here because I grew up with their parents.”
While Principal Bell only started a few months back, he already has big plans for Ronald Brown, much of which is centered around promoting the individuality of the scholars, and the community around them.
“Our kids understanding that this school is a safe place where they can come and be their authentic self without judgment, and knowing the adults not only in the school but in the community care about them, is so important for them to succeed,” Bell states. “It’s the confidence piece that’s the biggest thing for me. We are trending in the right direction in terms of changing the culture and the climate.
We want scholars to know that, yes, while this is a school and a place for learning, I can still come here and go to someone and be a kid. I can express things that I’m feeling knowing that it’s going to be without judgment.”
Community Engagement Principal
Bell also emphasized how community engagement is not only an opportunity to improve the success of the scholars, but the community members as a whole.
“Anything that happens in the community we want to be a part of. Advocating for young people and getting them exposure to things that they seldom see and partnering with the community and churches is what we need,” says Bell.
The school is currently working on a few partnerships with an innovation center and local churches, with more to come over the next year.
“We want to move away from ‘me’ and ‘y’all’ because it should be ‘us’ and ‘we” here. We want to change the language, change the mindset to where everyone is included in the process in making us the Pre-K through 8th grade institution on the east side.”
What’s Next?
“I have an open door policy, and we want the community to know to come see us, and see us in our authentic selves. Have a conversation with our kids. They ride their bikes all across East Warren, so wouldn't it be neat if they met the owner of Morningside Cafe, and could ride by and say hello? That's community,” Bell states.
“We are going to make it hard for people that are in this community not to come by and visit us. That's what I’m gonna do, and that's how I am setting up my team. We don’t have all the resources, but Morningside has a lot,” Bell says.
As he charts a new course for Ronald Brown, Principal Bell’s vision is clear: to nurture the individuality of every scholar and foster a sense of belonging within the community. As he boldly declares, the journey ahead is one of great possibilities, where every member of the community is not only invited but essential in shaping our future.