Damani Brandon is a Guidance Specialist at Synergy Alternative High School who sets high expectations for her students while being understanding of their struggles. She works with them to ensure they reach their goals, succeed in school and are ready for life after graduation.
“She's an instrumental part of our team here at Synergy. She is incredibly supportive of students. She very much goes above and beyond in finding ways to really help guide them, making sure that they are making those informed decisions, making sure that, at the end of the day, students are aligned with their post-secondary goals,” said Synergy Principal Edgardo Figueroa. “I think one thing that she excels at is really setting that high expectation for all of our students, and getting them to understand that we won't settle for less, and really just encouraging them every step of the way. That's something that has really resonated with a lot of our students, and has gotten them to cross the stage.”
Brandon is from East Hartford herself, which helps her relate to her students. Figueroa says she’s incredibly understanding and brings a positive attitude to everything she does at Synergy.
He said, “She understands the fact that the needs of our students change every single day. But then understands that we have to be able to push, persist and try to overcome, or make each day better than the last. When I think of as someone who is really willing to meet students where they are, she embodies that.”
Learn more about Damani Brandon in the Q&A below.
What brought you to Synergy and your role as Guidance Specialist?
Brandon: I was actually born in East Hartford. I grew up here. I graduated right up the street. So I'm an alum, which is kind of awesome to come back into the community and just kind of give back. I think what truly brought me to Synergy was just the environment and the team. Being here, you really feel like you're making a difference. So that's just something I really enjoy and appreciate.
I actually started here as a Behavior Manager, and then within a couple of months I was able to move up to a Guidance Specialist. I had a lot more responsibility, which was really nice, because I definitely always wanted to be in this kind of position where I’m helping the students.
What does your job entail?
Brandon: My job consists of meeting with the kids, going over their schedules, their grades, attendance, credits, all that good stuff. It's different any given day, you know. Like some days it might just be like, okay, the student doesn't have food at home, and we got to figure out how are we going to get the student food. Or it's the student is getting accepted to college, so it really varies. There's no regular day or regular responsibilities that I really have because it's so different. We're working with a different population every single day and different kinds of students, so you never really know.
In your role, you really get to know Synergy’s students from their goals to what they’re struggling with. What is that like for you and how do you work to build that trust?
Brandon: It's very rewarding for both myself and the student. I would say, because I know what these kids are going through. You know what I mean? I grew up in the same neighborhoods that they did, so to be able to relate with them in that way, I think helps both them and myself because I'm able to understand their struggles and help them work through it and talk through it.
What do you love most about your job?
Brandon: You genuinely feel like you're making a difference, and the team is so supportive. We are really Team Synergy. You feel like you're a part of a team, and that's honestly how I'm able to make it through the day to day is just knowing that I have that support from my team and we all have the same goal and the same mission. We really just want to see the kids succeed and help them along the way.
What does it feel like when you see those students succeed and reach their goals whatever they may be?
Brandon: Oh, it's amazing. And you really are able to kind of look back at where they've come from and see how much progress they've made. And the best part is they realize it too. It's not just like, ‘Okay, we did all this work and now you graduate.’ No, they see all the struggles that they've gone through, all the things that they've overcome and any challenges that they've been faced with and how they were able to handle it.