Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell was elected to the GRCC board of trustees on Nov. 4, 2020 for a term that runs from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2026.
Trustee Lovelady Mitchell deputy superintendent of Preschool-12 Learning and Leadership for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. She is a lifelong student advocate who is passionate about education and is invested in positioning students and educational staff in conditions that maximize their potential.
Trustee Lovelady Mitchell earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and holds graduate degrees from Michigan State University and Aquinas College.
She began her career at what is now Kent County’s Network 180, connecting children and families to mental health and substance abuse services. From there she took her love of children to the most logical place – our public schools, as a school counselor, guidance classroom teacher, consultant and principal.
Her doctoral studies focused on high-achieving Black males at the secondary level. Trustee Lovelady-Mitchell says her intention is to help educators and key stakeholders shift the narrative from pathologies to the success stories of staff and children of color.
Her professional work and doctoral studies prompted Eastern Michigan University to describe her as an “upcoming educator to watch,” and the university honored her in 2015 as a Scholar of Excellence. She was invited to the White House to take part in Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative.
Trustee Lovelady Mitchell has facilitated and presented nationally on topics such as project-based learning, adaptive schools, diversifying the educational workforce, equitable and inclusive practices and environments, and social-emotional wellness. She has worked to improve school attendance and student engagement, and bolster focused and multitiered support for students.
She has increased opportunities and attainment for high schoolers to enroll and earn early college credit, find scholarships, and earn industry credentials.
Trustee Lovelady Mitchell has coached and empowered educational executives, school board members, educators, and other stakeholders pertaining to equitable and culturally responsive practices.
