Community service is Raymond Braziel’s passion, and education is his life.
Blandy Hills Elementary School’s principal divides his time between service organizations in his hometown of Montrose and his hectic work schedule at school.
“If you’re looking for an interesting career, look to education because there’s never a dull moment,” Braziel said.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. member is active in his church, he holds high school and college graduation drives and participates in his fraternity’s scholarship program.
From an early age, Braziel realized education was his key to success.
The product of a large family, Braziel as a child would play school with friends and his six siblings.
His parents never finished school, yet he and his siblings graduated from college, and Braziel even earned a master’s degree in education administration.
“I wouldn’t be where I am and doing what I’m doing if not for the education I received,” he said.
But when he first
attended Georgia College & State University, the future principal studied to be a nurse.
“We were told there was a terrible lack of male nurses out there and hospitals needed male nurses,” Braziel said.
There also is a lack of male teachers, and once he made the switch from nursing to education, Braziel never looked back.
Braziel entered the classroom at Midway Elementary School 11 years ago teaching fifth grade. Over the years, his presence in the lives of his students had lasting effects and caused several to keep up with their first, and possibly last, male teacher.
“A lot of our [young men] students need another role model besides Michael Jordan, Shaq or Dwayne Wade. They need local role models that they can look up to who will teach them the various things about their community and how to conduct and carry themselves as young men,” Braziel said.
Of his school’s teachers, only three are men. One of them is the school’s principal.
Braziel is aided in his efforts buttressing teachers under stress by increasing state and federal mandates by his wife Geneva.
“She’s everything you could want in a wife,” Braziel said. “It helps when you’re in the same profession because I know where she’s coming from and she knows where I’m coming from.”
Their son Artrail attends his father’s school and can’t get away with missing any of his fifth-grade homework.
If a wife and son in the school system weren’t enough, Braziel still retains his love of teaching young children and improving their lives.
“When a student learns something for the first time, their face lights up and their teacher gets just as excited,” Braziel said. “That’s what it’s all about — seeing a child succeed, especially when they struggle for it.”
Local News
Blandy Hills principal finds inspiration in kids, service
- Local News
-
-
Harriet’s Closet is open Monday
Harriet’s Closet, a free supply closet to help fill the needs of cancer patients, is open from noon to 4 p.m.
-
Saturday Farmer’s Market will be held
The Saturday Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church, 210 S. Wayne St., featuring an assortment of farm-fresh, nutritious and delicious foods frm 9 a.m. to noon.
-
UPDATE - Victim identified in fatal shooting
Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said 32 year-old Niquitta Ashley was killed after being shot by her husband in an apparent accidental shooting early Friday morning.
-
Chicken dinner plate sale will be held
A chicken dinner plate sale will be held at Bible Revival Church, 101 Deadwood Drive, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-
Digital Bridges Open Computer Clinic is open
Digital Bridges Open Computer Clinic is open from 10 a.m. to noon in the Knight Community Innovation Center, 127 W. Hancock St.
-
Order a singing valentines
A quartet from Sweet Georgia Sound Show Chorus provide singing valentines.
-
Explorers rank in police events
Following a weekend trip to The Great Smoky Mountains, Milledgeville Police Department's Explorers Post #139 returned home with rankings, placing in several junior law enforcement competitions.
-
Georgia gets a waiver from federal education law
Georgia received a waiver Thursday from the No Child Left Behind law, becoming one of 10 states to get relief from the highly criticized federal policy.
-
Eatonton Duplicate Bridge Club meets
The Eatonton Duplicate Bridge Club, an official member of the American Contract Bridge League, meets at 1 p.m. at the Eatonton Performing Arts Center at Madison Avenue in Eatonton.
-
Civitan Club of Baldwin County meets
The Civitan Club of Baldwin County meets at 11:45 a.m. 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Golden Corral.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
