The Faces of the Golden Strip invite you to Meet Le’Keisha Brown, the newest addition to The Faces of the Golden Strip community blog. Le’Keisha Brown is the Principal of Greenbrier Elementary School. In our opinion, a real life superhero! We would like to thank Mrs. Brown for her outpouring of love, guidance, and her tender care towards the children of Greenbrier Elementary School and those of the entire Golden Strip Community.
Stay tuned for upcoming additional interviews on my Facebook page @ Kim Thrift , REALTOR at C. Dan Joyner REALTORS
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: I initially went off to college. I wasn’t quite sure just what I wanted to do. And the more I talked to people, the more I realized my heart was in giving in public service. Once I narrowed that down pretty early in my freshman year of college, I decided education is what I wanted to do. After having some time to continue to go out into elementary schools with one of my classes. I was like, yeah, this this is pretty much what what I feel I’m destined to do, and started thinking about the people who made an impact on me, and they were teachers. And I thought back to when I was a student at Plain Elementary, the teacher that I really connected to was Ms. Harper, and Harper is my maiden name. A lot of people thought that she was she was my mom. That connection that we had when I was an elementary student is is part of also what continued to influence me. She always cared for all her kids, not just the ones that were assigned to her, but all of them in the whole school. Everybody loved Ms. Harper. So she was an inspiration as well, and that is what I decided to do.
Q: How long have you been in this career?
A: This is my 22nd year. Time goes by fast!
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
A: I think it’s just the day to day interactions with the children. I learn so many different things about their teachers, about their friends, and about their parents just in conversations with the students. Just being a family. I always tell everybody when they’re here, they’re MY babies. I guess that goes back to the relationship I had with Ms. Harper in Elementary School. They’re mine when they’re here so being able to interact with them every day and learning more about what they like or what they dislike and what their goals are in the future.
Q: Describe the strangest or funniest incident you’ve ever experienced.
A: There’s so many. I think my funniest moment was when I was a classroom teacher and I taught in Middle School. When I made the decision that I was going to go into Administration, I had to get a certification in Middle School as well as Elementary School. My first experience at an Elementary School, I was doing my practicum and I was talking to a little girl who was in kindergarten. She had her little hands up for me to pick her up. I sat down in the cafeteria and I picked her up and I put her on my lap. As I was talking to her, I realized she was wet. I was completely dressed up in this new suit, you know, making that impression as an administrator. And now my lap was completely covered because she was soaking wet. It’s still been to this day the funniest thing. I looked at everybody like, “I’m a Middle School Teacher. What do I do with this?”
Q: What did you do prior to this career?
A: There are two things that I did prior to starting. When I was in college, I worked for Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. I helped with assisted living facilities. I would come home and do this on the weekend all through college. My patients or clients there lived in their own apartments, but they still needed someone to be there with them to provide the extra assistance to drive them to their jobs and to take them shopping and things like that nature.
When I finished college in December, my school didn’t have a Winter Graduation so I worked when I came home while waiting on the May Graduation. I worked as a Rape Crisis Counselor which at the time was called the Greenville Sexual Trauma Center; but it has now been renamed to the Julie Valentine Center. I did that from December until August when I started my first teaching job. That was an eye opener experience.
Q: Do you have a favorite restaurant in the Golden Strip?
A: My new favorite place is Bobby’s BBQ in Fountain Inn across from the Highway Department. Actually one of our students who goes here, His father owns it and his name is Bobby. I didn’t realize the connection until last year, probably in May at the end of the school year. I realized, “Hey, this is the same family.” Yeah, the BBQ place. It is awesome. Absolutely awesome barbecue.
Q: Do you have a specific dish at Bobby’s BBQ that you like there?
A: It’s their Ribs. They are very good!
Q: How long have you worked in the Golden Strip area?
A: I served Mauldin Middle School when it first opened. So I was there maybe four or five years and then now this is my fourth year here at Greenbrier. So about nine years total.
Q: Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met here in the Golden Strip area?
A: Our former Plant Engineer here at the school, Mr. Hall. He just retired this May. He’s absolutely the best person anyone could ever meet. When he said he was retiring I think the whole school cried. Absolutely a gem.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: I think that I’d either go to Paris or Germany. I’d probably pick Germany if I had to choose between the two. The reason I say that is because of my child. This is her senior year and she has taken three years of honors German at the High School. Everything I’ve heard about for the last three years has been something to do with with going to Germany. I think that would be a great opportunity for her to use the language and have authentic experiences of being there in Germany. She has made straight A’s and now thinking of minoring in it when she gets to College. Yeah, that would be a perfect place for her to go and experience.
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: I’m a kid’s movie person. My favorite movie would be a movie that’s that’s never been on the big screen. It’s more of a book and that would have been, Roll of Thunder, Hear my cry. That was my favorite piece of literature when I was teaching seventh grade. I guess my number two would probably be something animated…probably The Princess and the Frog. I love that movie. I guess that comes from being an Elementary School Principal and having a daughter..they’re all girl movies.
Q: What advice would you give to crowd of people?
A: I would tell them to see the uniqueness in everyone; and to give to others what you expect as far as kindness and respect. Then, also considering the day and time that we live in right now… be aware of your surroundings as well.
Q: What is on your bucket list?
A: Hawaii is on my bucket list and I keep seeing people go to Hawaii. I’m like, “I am going to Hawaii one day.”
The other thing on my bucket list is to take in a Broadway Show.
Q: Do you have a certain favorite style of music or any three bands you might want to see whether they are alive or deceased?
A: As far as deceased, I’d love to see the Temptations. I guess I’m an old soul. I still would love to see Gladys Knight. I love that song Midnight Train to Georgia . That was one my mom played all the time so I would love to see her. Oh gosh, if I ever had the opportunity to see Whitney Houston I think Whitney was THE Voice!
Q: What current or former local business make you feel the most nostalgic about the Golden Strip area?
A: There is a little boutique by Target called Koinophonic Boutique
I think that’s what we’ve kind of proved missing is some of the boutiques. I absolutely love the little nail shop that is beside target named C’est La Vie.
Q: Choosing anyone alive (and a non relative) with whom would you love to have lunch and why?
A: Oprah. I think She’s amazing. I think she has the touch no matter what. She’s just inspirational and inspiring as far as helping women and men as well. I think she’s always had a way of helping people work through difficult situations and helping people get to the next level, in whatever they’re passionate about. I think that’s a pretty big deal to help someone see what their future entails. I think I would I would like to meet with her and kind of bounce ideas off of her. When I was growing up, I initially wanted to be in broadcasting. That’s the road (the path) that she started out as a local anchor before she became Oprah and just to hear about that from her I think it’d be awesome. She has schools in Africa and those girls actually live at her school there. She follows them all the way through college. Last year on her morning show she had a documentary of one of the girls from when she initially started her school to when she went to college, and where she is now. If just one person can make that impact on another person, you realize how it’s going to impact their whole family.
Q: So where in the Golden Strip would you take Oprah for lunch?
A: Stella’s Bistro.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about the Golden Strip area?
A: What I think is unique is that even when you think about the Golden Strip cities of Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, and Mauldin, each city still has their own uniqueness. We’re each different; but yet we’re still collectively the Golden Strip. Everybody still knows that we’re connected; but you still have a different feel when you go into downtown Fountain Inn versus coming to the Ice Cream Station in Simpsonville. You still get that different feel and the flavors of the different cities.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
A: I laugh about that often. I always say I’m going be retired young; but my mother says, “No you aren’t retiring yet! I just recently retired so you can’t retire yet!” (Laughing as she says this). In five to ten years, I still see myself working with children and with people. I’ve always wanted to and had started working on a Doctoral Degree but did not finish; so I see myself completing that goal that I’ve set for myself. I could also see myself moonlighting a little bit and teaching on a college level, whether it’s online or at night.
Q: (Even for friends or family) What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: That I am shy. Most people don’t believe I’m an introvert. A lot of people say “No, you’re not! You talk to people and you’re friendly.” I have to have some time to myself to kind of just kind of decompress. I still have to have that moment to myself to recharge, and bring things together. Also, I’m an avid sports fan. It’s not just soccer because everyone knows my baby plays soccer; but I love all sports. I could sit home and watch sports on end… especially football.
Q: What Three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Love, Security (as far as security and safety), and Family.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and you had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: Denzel Washington is the first person who comes to mind. Then Chadwick Boseman is a very close second. He’s the one who played in Black Panther and he’s actually from Anderson.
Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? A chef, housekeeper, a driver, a coach, physical fitness trainer, or nanny?
A: Housekeeper for sure. Chef would be close second; but definitely Housekeeper just for laundry.
Q: Do you have a charitable organization that you’re passionate about?
A: I do. My Sorority, which is Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Next year I will have been involved for 25 years. It’s an International organization that you join when you are in college but it continues after college. We continue to meet and to work in the community. We have two girl groups that we work with. We do college tours, homework help sessions, study skills, self esteem workshops, political awareness, and health fairs in the community. There’s lots of different ways that we give back. It’s been an amazing ride with them. We have our local chapter here in Greenville, and then other cities have their local chapters. Once a year, we have our national convention where we all go, or what we call our regional convention. I love to give back with them. I’m very passionate about Delta Sigma Theta! I joined when I was in college in 1995. It’s been an amazing rise with wonderful women from all different venues of life. When you’re interacting with people, especially in Greenville where we have so many people that move into Greenville; so you get to learn about people and where they’re from. They bring in a different flavor asking, “Have you thought about working with the girls in this way? You know, this is what we did in my old chapter, in Ohio,” and “it’s a different idea that we haven’t thought about here.” It’s a wonderful organization and I appreciate all that I’ve learned from them and all that we do. In scholarships last year, we gave $20,000. It’s just something that I started in college but knowing that it continues, as we say a lifetime commitment to public service.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I’m actually a news junkie. I watch a lot of news shows. I like politics, and again, I love sports. So I’m either watching my daughter play soccer or watching the Atlanta United Soccer Team. I travel to Atlanta to watch them play a lot. I’m an avid Cowboys fan and football fan. I always tell everybody, “I’m watching America’s team so leave me alone.” Of course I like to eat. My mom is an avid Baker and now that she’s retired, she’s baking a lot more so I am always taste testing; which, you know, doesn’t help my weight but I enjoy it.
Q: Who else would you like to see nominated as the face of the Golden Strip?
A: The owner of my favorite new nail salon, C’est La Vie.
Q: What is something you would want to highlight to the community about what makes Greenbrier Elementary School so great?
A: What I always tell people that makes our school stand apart from others, is that I believe we are a true example of what society is. We have students from many diverse backgrounds, whether it’s ethnic backgrounds or social economic backgrounds. I always like to say, we’re not a melting pot… we are a salad. We are all here with all our different flavors and we are a picture of what works. Being able to appreciate the diversity that each of us bring, we could be of the same race and nationality, but we’re different. Respecting those differences and trying to instill that from the moment students enter here in our preschool, or special needs classes starting at three years old. That makes us different as well because a lot of elementary schools only have K4; but we have a special needs class where some of the students are actually still three years old. We actually have five special needs self-contained classrooms with wheelchairs. I’m starting to talk about kindness and what it means to be kind to people and what that looks like. A lot of times we just say, “Be kind,” but we don’t actually say, “Well, what does that look like? How do you know that you’re being kind? How does the next person understand it?” So I’m talking about that a little more. We really are..from the staff down to the children, I think we are a true example of diversity being appreciated here at the school.