Rising Stars: Meet Brooke Goodwine of Inner-City Dayton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Goodwine.

Hi Brooke, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
i am entering into my 15th year in public education, currently serving as a Principal in an elementary setting. I have deep roots in the educational system with my mother being my first influence as a teacher ans school leader for a 20+ year career. My grandfather, her father, worked in public education before her. The foundation of learning and leading was established early in my life. My grandfather was an artist and teacher and taught me so many life lessons during art sessions in our family basement, affectionately known as the tomb. There, my family convened to philosophize about our worldviews, listen to jazz, and connect in the cosmos of “the tomb”. The cosmos were inherently a part of the fabrication of my upbringing. Learning to live in my talents of public speaking as well as artistic expression. I went to college for Education and was afforded the opportunity to teach abroad at a private school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After returning to America in 2011, I immediately began my teaching career in inner-city Dayton. I taught for several years before looking at a position in leadership. In full transparency, my husband (then boyfriend) pushed me to apply for a leadership position in curriculum, (a position I didn’t feel qualified for). His words were “Stop limiting yourself, Let them tell you you’re not qualified“. Needless to say I got the job and I have lived by those words in my career ever since. I moved from Curriculum to Grant Management and after several years of this work at a district level, I found my way back to the building as an Assistant Principal for 4 years. After those years, my mentor pushed me to apply for a building for myself as a principal. I have been serving in that capacity, since, while completing my doctoral degree for P-12 leadership.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In 2015 I hit a major obstacle with the loss of my mother. She was my hero, my roadmap, moral compass. Her battle with cancer came in my 4th year of teaching and after that, I put so my heart into my work. I told myself I wanted to be the best for her. That next year I was nominated for teacher of the year in my district. In 2018 A year into our marriage, tragedy struck our hearts again when my father-in-law passed away. This grief was sudden and difficult to navigate. I was in my 2nd year of district leadership and 7.5 months pregnant. 2 weeks later we gave birth to our son, 6 weeks early. The time in the hospital (7 weeks) was deafening and defeating. My life had been moving so fast and we were forced to sit in a really hard, really serious and uncomfortable space. Those two times were defining for how I viewed my priorities and the impact of emotional empathy.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a building principal for an elementary in Kettering City Schools. I have a doctorate in P-12 leadership with published research on Culturally Responsive Practices in Title I Schools. This research focuses on the experiences of school leaders and how they leverage evaluations to reinforce culturally responsive practices. I am proud of my work in this research as well as my continued work as a presenter for conferences to promote the understanding and use of quality instructional practices for teachers and school leaders. I will be presenting later this year for Ohio Leadership Advisory Council.

In addition to this work, I work with my family to promote my grandfather’s artwork. This is work that is very passionate to me. We coordinate art shows and visibility of his artwork for various events. We have notably worked with the Dayton Art Institute on the installation of his work for the show Curtis Barnes, Sr.: Dayton Icon, one of a featured exhibitions for the 2025 art season. We have also recently held exhibits in New York, Juneteenth Celebrations in Dayton, Ohio and always looking for more opportunities to showcase his work.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I taught for several years before looking at a position in leadership. In full transparency, my husband (then boyfriend) pushed me to apply for a leadership position in curriculum, (a position I didn’t feel qualified for). His words were “Stop limiting yourself, Let them tell you you’re not qualified“. Needless to say I got the job and I have lived by those words in my career ever since.