Brandon Twp.- When school starts Aug. 23, students at Brandon High School will see a familiar face in a new place.
The Brandon School Board voted unanimously at their meeting Aug. 8 to hire Jerry Warner, a BHS teacher for 31 years, as the school’s new assistant principal.
‘I will miss teaching the kids in the classroom, but I’m ready to do something different,? said Warner, 55. ‘I’m still teaching, just a different subject. Instead of science, I’ll teach adult behavior and responsibility. Instead of 150 students, I’ll have 1,300 students.?
Warner, who was born and raised in Flint, attended the University of Michigan-Flint, where he had a double major in biology and chemistry. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he became certified to teach and got a master’s degree in educational leadership. Warner arrived at Brandon High School in 1974 and has taught microbiology, vertebrate zoology and many honors classes. He has been chairman of the science department for the past 20 years.
Warner has also coached many sports, including freshman and junior varsity football for five years (?74-?80), varsity softball for ten years (?75-?86) and girls varsity golf for the past three years. He also taught driver’s education for ten years.
He has been married to Lynne for 22 years and has two sons, Bryan, 20, and Phillip, 18, who both attend Western Michigan University.
As assistant principal, Warner wants to work on improving school spirit and helping students feel safe and comfortable at Brandon High School. He acknowledges there are problems at the school, but says he will work to make sure they don’t become big problems.
‘We’d be dreaming if we thought there wasn’t drugs or alcohol, but we are working to keep them out of this building and educate the kids,? Warner said.
He replaces former assistant principal Michael Peterson, who retired in June.
Dr. Michael Ferguson, BHS principal, is confident Warner will do a wonderful job.
‘He’s been dedicated to the students and community for many years and will bring some good leadership skill to the administrative team to make Brandon High School one of the best high schools, if not the best, in the state.?