Q&A with Brianne Malatt, New Jefferson Dean of Students

Brianne Malatt is the new dean of students at . She comes to from Chicago Public Schools where she worked in the Office of Special Education and Supports.

She is married and lives in Homer Glen.

Q: What is your philosophy about discipline?

A: You really have to love your kids. You have to build that relationship. There are times when they're going to do things that will warrant being sent out of the classroom and sent to the office. I am not of the mindset that for every little thing, kids get sent out of the room.

You need to manage your room in such a manner where the kids feel cared about. You've built your relationship; they know what your clear expectations are. You stick to them; they're consistent. And when all those little components come together, I will see the biggest incidents, but for the most part, the kids will be in class and they will be learning.

Q: What other goals do you have for the school year?

A: Getting to know the school culture. I have all these ideas, stuff that's worked for me in the past, but you don't want to change something if it works well.

So my first year is really going to be, especially the first two quarters, seeing what works, being in classrooms, seeing how the teachers react and how they respond and how they set up their rooms as well as how the kids behave. And then focusing on what needs improvement. We'd like to focus on some things early if they arise. We don't want to wait because this is the planning year for PBIS to get kicked into gear next year.

Q: What are the particular challenges of dealing with junior high students?

A: The biggest challenge is also what I love the most about them. And that is the fact that they're still young enough where you can do the fun childlike things, like games. But at the same time, they're developing into this independent person.

You can have some really deep serious conversations with them. And the ideas that they have are stuff that adults usually don't come up with. Just the angles that they look at things. They have really great ideas.

They're kind of a collection of changes. But just to see them develop and see that light bulb go on and have them get excited about learning and all the different things that are going on. It's the biggest change but I also think it's the most interesting thing about this age group.

Q: What do you hope that they get from you in addition to good behavior?

A: Internal confidence and goal setting. That they know that this is what I want to achieve. That they have enough tools and they have enough belief in themselves that they are going to do this. That they'll take whatever steps and be determined enough to achieve whatever goal it is, whether it be sports or academics. Just know that they can. And come to school and leave school knowing that somebody cares about them.

Q: What made you decide you wanted to become a dean of students and come out here to Woodridge?

A: My plan since I was very young was always to be a teacher and an attorney. I had a great opportunity when I passed the bar (to join a small law firm). But my plan was always to come back either specifically doing school law or some kind of administrative role.

I looked around at the districts. I used to work with Principal Scaletta (now at ) at Hufford and I heard really great things about the district. So I applied and I'm here.

Q: The dean of students is a new role at Jefferson created by Principal Bill Schmidt to mainly deal with student discipline and implementing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports). Can you talk about what your plans are?

A: I really see my role as obviously the discipline, when kids have some major disruptive behavior, but also to be a support and a coach for the teachers. Such as, if they don't know how to set something up, whether it be the physical proximity of their room, or if they're having minor misbehaviors and they don't want to send the kid out but they don't know how to handle it. Maybe they've used up all their tricks.

I want to be somebody that the teachers can say that this is the problem and have me problem solve with them.

As far as PBIS, I've never implemented the program. But learning about it and sitting through the training over the summer, many, many of the things I've already done before at Hufford. I did a lot of professional development with classroom management with our new teachers and our staff there. I feel like my prior experience and my philosophy, my discipline and managing students fit right in with what the school is moving towards.

Q: How long did you work for Chicago Public Schools?

A: A little over a year.

Q: What did you do before that?

A: I was a teacher for seven years in Joliet (at Hufford Junior High). I taught language arts and social studies. I went to law school at night and passed the bar in 2008. I had a really great opportunity at a defense firm (in Hinsdale). So I left and went there for a couple of years.

And then I had an opportunity at Chicago Public Schools to do contracts. I worked specifically for the Office of Special Education in support. I handled anything that directly affected services or training or professional development.

Q: Did you group up around this area?

A: I grew up in Mokena.

Q: What are your favorite activities outside of work?

A: Since I've been married, I really like to cook. I'm not a gourmet chef by any means but I do like to find something a little bit different.

Q: What's your favorite thing to make?

A: I make a mean Asian Chicken - Asian drumsticks I guess. They have Sriracha and all this stuff I've never even heard of.

Q: How long have you been married?

A: 10 months!

Q: Anything else you'd like us to know about you or your new position?

A: I'm very excited to see the kids. I hear really great things about the staff and the administrators, the board. I've met a lot of the teachers. I've met some of the students already. The parents have been so welcoming when I got to meet them at registration.  It seems like a very positive culture which would be very nice to walk into.

My door is always open if parents have questions. If anyone has questions, they're more than welcome to come in to discuss whatever it is they want to discuss.