The Center for Literacy & Learning

Customized Professional Learning Services for Schools, School Districts and Individual Teachers

Julie Brandt

Julie Brandt

Literacy & Learning Specialist, Early Childhood

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What is your role with The Center and what are you most excited about?

I am a Literacy & Learning Specialist, Early Childhood.  I am most excited that this role will allow me to focus on assisting teachers within Early Childhood Classrooms throughout Louisiana.  Being able to get back into the early childhood classrooms is a focal point of my excitement about this position.

What is your background?

I received my bachelors in Elementary Education and Mild Moderate Education from Southeastern Louisiana University and am graduating this month from LSUS with a master’s in Education Curriculum and Instruction: Reading Instruction.  I began my career in education within the Special Education classroom where I taught K-4th grade for 5 years in Ascension Parish.  From there I transitioned into working with early childhood.  I owned and operated 3 childcare centers for 16 years focusing on child growth and learning.  Recently, I returned to the classroom in Special Education where I spent 5 years teaching K-5th grade inclusion in Ascension Parish.

What is your favorite childhood book or literacy memory?

My favorite childhood book was “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.  I can remember my mom reading this book to me when I was five.  I loved this book not only for the vivid memory of story time with my mom, but for the message that it conveyed.

Flashback to when you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a teacher.  My mom was a teacher, and I loved playing in her classroom.  I enjoyed pretending I was the one writing on the chalkboard and instructing students.  My mom was my inspiration and instilled a joy of learning in me that I hope to have passed along to my children and the students I have taught. 

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

I would be in Kyoto, Japan.  I visited relatives there several years ago and fell in love with the culture and respect in the country. Besides it being so beautiful, it was a truly humbling experience to see an environment where everyone is valued and treated with such care and humility.

What passion projects do you have outside of work?

I am discovering a passion for updating furniture and houseware items.  I have updated several furniture pieces around my home thus far.  I am beginning to expand this interest into wall art and decorations around my house.