Assistant Principal Central Candidate
Disclaimer: Candidate information is posted as submitted, without editing by MASSP staff; any spelling or formatting errors are as received.
Brian Guiney
Assistant Principal
Traverse City Central High School
Phone: 231-872-5680
Email: guineybr@tcaps.net
Statements
- Experience: What is your current administrative position? How long have you served in that capacity? What was your path to obtain it?
I am currently serving in my eighth year as an assistant principal at Traverse City Central High School. Prior to this position, I taught English for 22 years at three different Michigan high schools. I have tremendous pride in my long teaching career and lean on my experience as I support and coach our teaching staff. - Performance: Tell us about any awards, accolades or important points of pride related to your career.
My greatest point of pride is the school culture our administrative team has built at Traverse City Central. Our focus is connections – staff to staff, staff to student, student to student, and student to content. Being connected and engaged is the through line of all our work.
I’ve always taken pride in my wide range of skills. At one point in my career, in the same year, I had multiple students score a 5 on the AP Literature & Composition exam, and the varsity hockey team I coached advanced to the MHSAA final four. I was the keynote speaker at Big Rapids High School’s commencement in 2010 and 2015. In 2000, I was the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce teacher of the year. - Education: What post-secondary degrees have you obtained and from where? What additional continuing education have you received? Do you have a particular area of focus/expertise?
I have two degrees from Michigan State University, a bachelor’s in English Education and a master’s in K-12 Educational Administration. My priority since becoming an administrator is growing my cognitive coaching and mentoring skills as they relate to instructional practice. Additionally, I have fostered the growth of proficiency based grading in our staff. This began with me taking a group of seven teachers to visit Adlai Stevenson High School in Illinois – the school that literally wrote the book on what they call Evidence Based Reporting. Also, in support of developing strong classroom instruction, I steer Central High School’s Leadership Team of 12 teachers, and I recently brought back a long dormant instructional rounds cycle to our school. - Statement of Intent: Why are you seeking this position on the MASSP Board of Directors?
I believe deeply in the effectiveness of our public schools. School principals play a critical role in this effectiveness. We cultivate teacher growth and student learning. Additionally, we are essential in creating a positive school culture and setting/controlling the narrative of what public education looks like in our respective communities. Being a member of the MASSP board would present an opportunity to learn from other high level educators throughout Michigan, and perhaps share out the good work we do in Traverse City. The process of collaboration makes us all stronger and positions us to be successful.