Brad A. Hurst Jr.
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  • Leadership Philosophy
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  • Résumé
  • Letters of Recommendation
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  • Experiences
  • Answers to Common Interview Questions
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Mr. Hurst’s pedagogy, thoughtfulness, and hard work alone make him one of the better teachers I have ever had the pleasure of working with, but it is his leadership that sets him apart. Brad’s guidance was evident in almost every aspect of my day. Brad headed our Professional Learning Community, managed our Science Department of eleven teachers, was a vital part of our Instructional Leadership Team for two years, and was a first class mentor to new teachers. Brad has been an integral mover in my own growth as a teacher through innumerable coaching conversations, aiding with curriculum development, and truly beneficial observations. Brad leads from the front, does not dictate, is respected by his peers, and is someone I admire as a colleague." 
~David Oldham, AP Chemistry Teacher at Johnston High School
Experiences matter a great deal more than years of experience. Those that make hiring decisions have a responsibility to question how those years were spent. Hiring should not simply be based on candidates meeting a checklist. Character, attitude, personality, and work ethic are significantly more important than simply having experience in a role.

2017-2018
  • Administrative Learning Experiences: 
    • Cary Justmann, Waukee High School Principal. ​
      • Overall School Building Leadership Lens 
      • Learning conversations have included: strategies for effective and ongoing communication with students and staff, working with student groups to incorporate student voice and leadership in decision making, and increasing inclusion and ensuring all students feel welcome at and connected to their school. ​
  • Waukee HS Building Leadership Team (BLT) Member
  • Waukee HS Professional Learning Committee Member
    • Worked together to transform our professional learning for staff into a model that is more targeted, differentiated, and based more upon teacher choice and voice in shaping their professional learning
  • Waukee HS Chemistry PLC Facilitator
    • Over this year, I have facilitated multiple PLC conversations centered around rethinking our assessment practices, building in more time for discovery learning, and incorporating more professional learning into our PLC meetings.
    • Our PLC time has come to be even more intentional, organized, and student-centered as a result of these conversations. 
  • ​Drake University Continual Improvement Network - Year 2
  • Drake University School Of Education International Advisory Council - Year 2
  • ASCD Emerging Leader - Year 1
  • Solution Tree PLC Workshop (St. Charles, MO)
  • Drake University Standards-Based Grading Symposium

2016-2017
  • Administrative Learning Experience:
    • Clinical 2 Experience, Drake University Educational Leadership Program
    • Adam Shockey, Waukee Middle School Principal (Clinical 2)
      • Gained administrative experience and learning related to building a master schedule, longitudinal student data collection in mathematics, student-led conferences, new teacher induction, furniture improvements, Level 1 and 2 IEP meetings, interviews, and hiring of teachers and associates.

2015-2016
  • Administrative Learning Experience:
    • Clinical I Experience, Drake University Educational Leadership Program
    • ​Kirk Johnson, Waukee High School Prinicpal (Clinical 1)
      • Learning Experiences included: Understanding the Teach Iowa Recruitment and Hiring Process, Building Staffing Plans for a 4A High School Based Upon Enrollment and Course Selection Data, and Supervision of Athletics and Activities.
  • Implementing Teacher Leadership (Steve Barkley Workshop)
  • Facilitation, Verbal Communication, and Teaming (Steve Barkley Workshop)
  • Cognitive Coaching, Level 1 and Level 2 Certification (Heartland AEA)
  • Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) Certification (Heartland AEA)

2014 – 2015
  • Johnston Education Association President
  • Johnson Education Association Bargaining Team 
  • Johnston CSD Calendar Committee
  • Johnston CSD Human Resources Director Search Committee
  • Johnston CSD Instructional Leadership Team
  • Iowa State Education Association Representative for the National Education Association's Resolutions Committee 
  • Iowa State Education Association Legislative Conference 
  • Data Teaming Training (Heartland AEA)
  • Center for Teaching Quality "Leveraging Leadership Styles" Co-Presenter Launching Teacher Leadership Conference
  • Center for Teaching Quality "Rising Leaders" Retreat
  • NEA Representative Assembly, Iowa Delegate 
  • ISEA Summer Conference 
  • NEA/CTQ/NBPTS Teacher Leadership Initiative - Inaugural Cohort

2013 – 2014
  • Johnston Education Association President 
  • Johnson Education Association Bargaining Team
  • Johnson Community School District Education Reform Committee (Iowa TLC Grant Writing Committee)
  • Heartland AEA Teacher Leadership and Compensation Grant Development Workshops
  • Iowa State Education Association Representative for the National Education Association's Resolutions Committee 
  • Iowa State Education Association Delegate Assembly (Resolutions Committee Member)
  • National Education Association Representative Assembly, Iowa Delegate 
  • Iowa State Education Association Summer Conference 
  • Implementing PLC’s for Teachers Workshop (Heartland AEA)          

2012 – 2013
  • Johnston Education Association President
  • Johnson Education Association Bargaining Team 
  • National Education Association Representative Assembly, Iowa Delegate 
  • Iowa State Education Association Summer Conference 
  • Iowa State Education Association Ethics for Educators Training

2011 – 2012 
  • Johnston Education Association President
  • Johnson Education Association Bargaining Team
  • Johnston Community School District 21st Century Teaching Workshop
  • Iowa State University Center for Biorenewable Chemicals Summer Research
  • Iowa State Education Association Summer Conference 

2010 – 2011 
  • Johnson Education Association Membership Chair
  • Iowa State Education Association Summer Conference 
  • Johnston Community School District Effective Instruction Summer Institute     

2008 – 2009 
  • National Science Teacher's Association New Science Teacher Academy Amgen Fellow 
  • Iowa State University Center Plant Genome Outreach Summer Research

2007 – 2008 
  • National Science Teacher's Association New Science Teacher Academy Amgen Fellow 
  • Iowa State University Science Bound Teacher at Des Moines East High School 

​2006 – 2007 
  • Iowa State University Science Bound Teacher at Des Moines East High School 
Brad served as a mentor to me as an educator. Brad’s classroom was an inclusive and responsive environment. His students received high-quality instruction as a result of Brad’s commitment to researching and implementing high yield instructional strategies. His students also felt safe and cared for as a result of the environment that Brad created. He possesses the remarkable ability to make the complex accessible and supports learners in reaching their full potential. Brad’s effective classroom practices resulted in success for all types of learners and high praise from his colleagues."
~Tom Griffin, Instructional Coach at Johnston High School
Brad’s leadership within his PLC kept that team centered and helped others to grow as professionals.  He assisted in spearheading the work of the Chemistry team with the incorporation of a modeling curriculum.  This work has created opportunities within his PLC to have real conversations about instruction, assessment, and curriculum, which in turn led to making beneficial changes for students in their response to the needs of learners working through the DuFour questions.  Many teachers in their position, and rate of success, would be pacified and content with status quo.  Not Brad; he pushes his colleagues and they are truly better educators having had opportunities to work with him." 
~Jill Versteeg, Director of Special Programs at North Polk Community School District (and former Johnston High School Instructional Coach)
While in Johnston, in addition to his classroom responsibilities, Brad was selected to fill a lead teacher role. This new position was funded and initiated through the state TLC program. Within this expanded position Brad has been involved in the planning and delivery of professional learning within professional learning communities, received training and practice around cognitive coaching principles and participated in the induction process for new teachers."
~Dr. Corey Lunn, Johnston Community School District Superintendent 
Brad is the kind of innovative, reflective, and self-directed leader that education needs today in the major paradigm shift we are experiencing. Brad is skilled at involving others as learners, problem solvers, and leaders in the change process. He pays particular attention to the specific needs of each student with a focus on helping them reach their highest potential." 
~Laura Kacer, Executive Director of Human Resources for the Johnston Community School District
Brad was President of Johnston Education Association during the two years I was fortunate to serve as President of the Johnston School Board. In these two distinct positions, we often worked in tandem to provide the best educational opportunities for all of the students in the Johnston Community School District. I found Brad to be a passionate representative of members of his association, but also willing to listen to other's viewpoints in order to arrive at the optimal solution for all involved. Over the years, he built a relationship of mutual respect with all members of the Johnston School Board." 
~Gregory Dockum, Johnston Board of Education

Contact Me!

  • About Me
  • Core Beliefs
  • Leadership Philosophy
  • Entry Plan
  • Résumé
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Blog
  • Licensure
  • Experiences
  • Answers to Common Interview Questions
  • ISSL Standards: Drake Artifacts
  • ISSL Standards: Reflection
  • Other Artifacts
  • Media Coverage
  • Educational Videos
  • Pictures
  • Contact