Nancy Brady “Keeps It! Going” with Leadership

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”. The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a new feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we will salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

“Give your students the opportunity to make a difference, and they will exceed your expectations.” This philosophy has been a motivating force for educator Nancy Brady for more than 30 years. First through her work with children with special needs and most recently as a student council adviser at Governor Mifflin Middle School (Shillington, PA), Brady has taught children that their actions can make a difference not only to peers in their own community but also to children half a world away in Ivory Park, South Africa.

Though Brady officially retired from her teaching position at Governor Mifflin in 2009, she has retained her role as student council adviser and remained the driving force behind Governor Mifflin’s energetic support of the Keep It! Campaign. She explains that her students were responsive to the needs of Ivory Park residents after they saw a picture presentation that allowed them to put a name and a face with the project. In addition to a holiday dance fundraiser, students have worked together to make quilts, photo frames, puzzles, and an illustrated ABC book for the new library. “The most important reason that our students responded to this campaign is because they learned about the children of Ivory Park,” she says. “They had an understanding of how they live and what the campaign is trying to accomplish.” 

For her leadership and dedication to the Keep It! Campaign, Nancy Brady has received a special key ring made by the children of Ivory Park. Brady’s students at Governor Mifflin Middle School wrote and illustrated an ABC book for the new Ivory Park library.

Brady believes that advisers can increase student interest in any service project by helping the students feel a personal connection to the people they are helping. “When kids have a real connection, they become more involved,” she notes. “When (Keep It! founder) Bob Tryanski brought Ivory Park to our kids with pictures and facts, they embraced the cause.”

Brady has applied this same guiding principle many times throughout her career. She relates an incident in which a simple meeting served to break down barriers and build connections. “Many years ago, I brought physically challenged preschoolers into our building four times a year to visit one-on-one with our student council members,” she explains. “The students would return to their homerooms telling positive stories about these children. Once a year, the entire homeroom would meet their new preschool friend and his or her parents. A new connection was made along with a new understanding of the challenges. The program continued for ten years. It was amazing to watch the enthusiasm.”

As experienced advisers know, the toughest part of keeping any campaign going is preserving interest in a project after the initial enthusiasm has waned. Brady notes that the adviser can serve an important role by sustaining project visibility. With the Keep It! Campaign, Brady maintains a display case showing photos of children from Ivory Park. Tryanski also returned to Governor Mifflin to show the students pictures of the positive changes that had occurred in Ivory Park as a result of their efforts. Brady notes that frequent reminders and updates regarding project progression and success can help motivate students to stay involved.

But perhaps the most important advice that Brady can offer other educators is to lead with a contagious enthusiasm. “Be passionate about whatever cause you choose. Our students learn best from our example,” she says. “Show them the way.” 

Tryanski notes that Brady’s enthusiasm is one quality that makes Brady a top notch educator and role model. “If you want to learn how to be a great teacher, coach, mentor, or advisor, spend a day with Nancy Brady and take copious notes,” he says. “Nancy embodies a passion for teaching, an ethic of service and the patience and commitment to showing young people how to go beyond making a difference.  She was one of President Bush’s original Points of Light and the example she has set is an eternal flame of generosity, opportunity, and hope for educators and the young people that they serve.”

The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Nancy Brady, a campaign champion who “Keeps It! Going” through strong leadership and dedication.

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