Countywide : Educator’s Dedication Rewarded With State Principal of Year Title

Brian Garland is dedicated to the education of children.

“If that could be my epitaph, I’d be happy,” said Garland, principal of Edison High School.

So it is only apropos for Garland, 54, to be recognized this week as California Principal of the Year.

“It’s humbling, but it also makes one feel good that after 32 years in the business, some people have taken notice that you’ve made a commitment to children--and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Garland was among 51 principals from all the states and Washington, D.C., who were honored by the National Assn. of Secondary School Principals. He is also a contender for National Principal of the Year, to be announced in December.

The National Assn. of Secondary School Principals is a nationwide organization of about 45,000 educators.

Garland was selected as the state representative by the California Assn. of School Administrators, an organization that represents about 16,000 elementary, middle school and high school administrators.

Garland, who lives two blocks from the high school and whose two children graduated from Edison, started teaching in 1963 in Chicago. He has been at Edison since 1970, where he taught and served as vice principal and assistant principal before landing the top post seven years ago.

English teacher Bob Stolte, who has taught at the school since 1969, praised Garland for his leadership, support of teachers and willingness to listen to teachers’ ideas.

“He’s a person who understands and respects teachers,” he said.