Brilliant Students In Plain Sight
This book is for people who, like me, who are in a constant and relentless search to find a way for every single child who crosses their doorstep to not only learn but learn at a level that corresponds with his potential. It is written for those who want to experience what I have experienced for over four decades. That is the incredible feeling of seeing the sheer and amazing excitement and, yes, disbelief on the faces of students who never believed they could achieve a 100% pass rate and the pride of teachers who felt the same way.
Book Info
Table of contents
Get a look at all of the content covered in the book. Everything you need to know is inside.
Chapters
1
Author’s Note
1
My Raison d’être (Reason for Being)
1
Prologue: Skinned Knees, Chinaberry Trees and Miss Louise
1
Introduction
1
Chapter 1:
Mission and Vision: “This Mission and Vision Thing is More Important Than We Thought….”
1
Chapter 2:
Leadership: The Guided or Misguided Coalition
1
Chapter 3:
High Expectations: Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Kids.
1
Chapter 4:
Buy-In: “I Am Not Buying What You Are Selling.”
1
Chapter 5:
What Works: “Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater.”
1
Chapter 6:
Using Data to Guide Instruction: “Data, Data Everywhere but Not a Drop to Drink!”
1
Chapter 7:
Celebration of Learning: “Nothing Happens Until People Are Having Fun.”
1
Epilogue
1
Acknowledgments
1
About the Author
About the author
Lillie Jessie
Lillie Jessie
Lillie Jessie is a nationally recognized author, a mentor, a master teacher, an award-winning principal (retired), and an international educational consultant. She grew up in South Carolina and was one of only four students from her segregated high school to graduate from college. During her tenure with Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia, she served as Supervisor of the Title 1 reading program, a diagnostician, a reading teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal.
Lillie is the author of Brilliant Students in Plain Sight and coauthor of three anthologies (chapters) in: The Collaborative Principal, The Collaborative Teacher,and It’s The Principal of the Thing. She also published a guide for principals called The Ten Principal’s Principles for High Performance in Diverse, Low-Income Schools and was selected as one of six principals to contribute to Dr. Richard DuFour’s book, Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work. She earned a master’s degree in communication disorders from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from South Carolina State University.
Lillie has received numerous awards for her contributions to the educational community. She received theDistinguished Educational Leadership Award from The Washington Post and was named the Prince William County Principal of the Year in 1996. In addition, she received the Unsung Hero Award, an Educator of the Year award from Dale City Christian Church, an NAACP Community Service Award, and an Eboné Image Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She also received a Universal Human Rights Day Award from the Prince William County Human Rights Commission. A new wing, named in her honor, was added to exterior of Vaughan Elementary School in 2009.
On February 15, 2024, the Senate of Virginia wrote a resolution that commended Mrs. Jessie for her contributions to both Virginia schools and the community at large.
Lillie lives with her husband, Richard, in Virginia.
Community Servant Endorsements
★★★★★
Lillie Jessie is a visionary community servant whose leadership has had a lasting impact on Prince William County.
Forty-one years ago, my husband and I sponsored the first Martin Luther King Jr. Program in Prince William County through the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. At that time, we invited and paid nationally recognized adults to deliver keynote speeches.
Five years later, Soror Lillie Jessie introduced the innovative idea of featuring student speakers and awarding the winner a small stipend along with a Drum Major Medal. Her vision transformed the program and created opportunities for young people to develop and showcase their leadership, public speaking, and critical-thinking skills.
As the architect of the youth orator format of the Martin Luther King Jr. Program, she helped grow the event into one of the largest and most celebrated programs of its kind in the nation, with attendance reaching more than 3,300 participants.
As a member of the Prince William County School Board, Lillie championed educational advancement, honored African American unsung heroes through school-naming initiatives, and played a key role in the selection of the county’s first African American superintendent in more than 150 years. Her dedication to service, education, and community empowerment continues to inspire generations.
This book is yet another example of her commitment to uplifting others by highlighting the brilliance, promise, and achievements of our youth.
— Joann Bagnerise
Nationally Recognized Community Servant
★★★★★
Similar to Mrs. Jessie’s own experience of not realizing she had a story to tell, the MLK Jr. Contest showed me and my fellow middle and high school contestants that we all had meaningful stories to share, regardless of our age or background. It empowered us to envision a present and future in which our stories could inspire others. That experience inspired me to work for a Williamsburg city councilman, mayor of Richmond, governor of Virginia, and the senate majority leader of Virginia. Mrs Jessie and that oratorical contest were influential in shaping my voice and life’s purpose.
— Seth Opoku-Yeboah
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Professional Colleagues
★★★★★
Mrs. Jessie was a dynamic Principal whom I had the privilege of working with for 11 years. She created an atmosphere where everyone was recognized for their ideas and hard work. As team lead for First Grade, we would give a pretest, analyze the data, and then develop a pacing guide to ensure that all students would learn at the highest level. The First Grade Team didn’t focus on just the students in our class but on all students, which caused us to celebrate at the end of each year with 90% or higher pass rates in every subject. Thus, under Mrs. Jessie’s leadership, we were able to accomplish and achieve the school’s vision and mission “Excellence for all, whatever it takes!”
— Andrea Phillip
First Grade Teacher
★★★★★
A standing ovation to you! You did what most educators don’t have the courage to do. This book is truly a dream realized.
Beautifully written, it serves as both inspiration and a practical “how to” guide for building a positive collective culture centered on student learning. Your story telling style captivates the reader while honestly guiding us through waves of successes and failures, all ultimately tied together with a beautiful celebration of learning.
Thank you for instilling in me—and so many others—the belief that nothing meaningful happens until people are having fun. Your passion, authenticity, and leadership shine through every page.
Bravo, my friend!
— Anita G. Flemons
First Grade Teacher
★★★★★
Mrs. Jessie is the model example for “standing on the shoulders of giants”. Her command for instructional leadership is “second to none”. As a result of Mrs. Jessie’s coaching and mentorship, my educational leadership is impactful, and in turn, principals, teachers, and students are positioned to win. Mrs. Jessie’s legacy LIVES!
— Jaecelynn Hart
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The About’s Words
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