If true motivation and passion were every debated, Brett Heinrich would resemble that exact image for the students and staff of Collierville High School. The Vice Principal of CHS gives us insight on what it means to be in his shoes.

Heinrich explores how he’s able to assist others while also working toward the betterment of himself.

He adds upon his past relationships has shaped and developed him into the person he is today.

“So, my first year as vice principal was last year, so this is my second year. Before that, for three years, I was at our district office as our Career and Technical Education supervisor, and before that, I was an assistant principal at both this building and the last one for six years.”

Brett received his undergraduate degree in history as well as political science from the University of Memphis. He even earned a Master of Arts in Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction. As completing his educational degree at Ole Miss, every step he’s taken has shown how he’s grown to become to an administrator.

“I try to surround myself with people that are smarter than me and people that I consider to be good people, because I want to strive to be better than I was the day before, … I don’t like being the smartest person in the room. I like knowing that there’s somebody else that has something that I want to achieve or be like, because it gives me something to work towards.”

Brett brings much attention to his passion in finding what makes students interested and aligning those interests with their future paths.

“What’s interesting about this job is that we get to have an impact on teachers and students at the same time. And I think that on a day to day basis, our administrators can for students be a level of support for them, an additional level of support.”

Prioritizing the wellbeing of the students as well as the staff creates a strong community and healthy atmosphere established by the administration of Collierville High School.

“We instituted something this year called a positive discipline referral. We actually were just talking in the hallway about what we should call it. We think we’re going to call it soaring dragons for those students that you know, find something in the hallway and turn it in, or they see a student in distress, and they help them out, or they go above and beyond.”

These additions of having reliable solutions to issues or stressful situations can provide a gateway for students to conquer challenges or obstacles they’re faced with.

“There’s always going to be ups and downs in life. It’s how you deal with the downs and the outlook you have every day that makes the world of difference.”