Raquel Metoyer Brown is an experienced educator and academic administrator with more than 30 years in her field. Since 2016, she has been the principal of Woodlawn Middle School in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, where she is responsible for a wide variety of duties to help the school run smoothly, safely, and effectively. Every morning, Ms. Brown greets students and teachers and ensures that everyone is in their respective classrooms. She conducts classroom visits to observe teachers and students, facilitates professional development for her staff, and analyzes student educational outcomes. She engages in discussions with parents and participates in district-wide meetings for principals and administrators. Most importantly, Ms. Brown assesses the efficacy of educational platforms and identifies areas of student performance that are lacking. Throughout her career, she has always been passionate about helping students secure future opportunities. This deeply held drive initially pushed her to become an educator and still motivates her to excel in her job every day. Ms. Brown takes great pride in being honored as Principal of the Year in 2022 and Teacher of the Year in 2010.
To prepare for her career in education, Ms. Brown attended the University of Louisiana Monroe and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in education in 1992. Continuing her academic pursuits at Northwestern State University, she earned a Master of Music degree in 1994. From 1992 to 1995, while studying for her graduate degree, she began her career as a music teacher with the Rapides Parish School System in Alexandria, Louisiana. Following this role, Ms. Brown served as a music teacher at Parkforest Middle School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from 1997 to 2003 and subsequently excelled as a music teacher at Westdale Middle School until 2006. From 2006 to 2013, she was a music teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, after which she transitioned to working in administration. Ms. Brown served as an assistant principal from 2014 to 2016 before becoming the principal of Woodlawn Middle School.
Ms. Brown attributes her success to invaluable guidance from multiple exceptional individuals. She takes immense pride in her team and is confident in entrusting them with responsibilities, knowing they can handle challenges even in her absence. As an academic leader, she has remained committed to nurturing and developing her staff members to foster their leadership potential. Throughout her career, Ms. Brown has grown in many ways. She has become more data-driven, analytical, and capable of giving constructive criticism. Recognizing that most principals are hardworking professionals who only want the best for their students and teachers, she believes she was put in her role to make the world a better place. To this day, she is excited to go into the classroom and conduct observations. At times, she even participates in the lesson.
In the next five years, Ms. Brown is determined to see Woodlawn Middle School continue to excel in its school performance scores. Her vision extends beyond academic achievement, and she hopes to see every child experience holistic growth across multiple areas. As the principal, she aims to foster an environment where students not only thrive academically but also develop social skills, emotional literacy, physical health, and creativity. Ultimately, her goal is to empower her students to become well-rounded individuals capable of pursuing their passions and contributing meaningfully to society. As a young woman, Ms. Brown learned from the example of her mother, who was a band director, teacher, and school board member. She is proud to have inspired her sons, who are pursuing graduate studies, to continue the family’s legacy of academic excellence.