TANYA BRANHAM, PHILLIP O. BERRY ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY

Twenty-seven years with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Tanya Branham, principal of Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, can’t see herself being anywhere else.

Originally from Ohio, Branham grew up in a military family and had the opportunity to travel and live overseas. After returning to Ohio and graduating from high school, Branham enlisted in the military while in college and served in the Air Force Reserve for seven years. She later moved to North Carolina and transferred to the Air National Guard. While in the Air National Guard, she worked on her degree to teach. Her first teaching position was at South Mecklenburg High School as a ninth grade English teacher.

“I was open to middle school, but when I moved to Charlotte, the person in HR gave me some high schools to look into,” said Branham. “Once I got my foot into high school, I was just like ‘that’s where I want to be.’”

After several years in the classroom, Branham said she was ready to expand her reach and impact on students as an administrator. After obtaining her master’s degree from Winthrop University, she served as an assistant principal at several CMS middle and high schools. Her first principal position was at Mountain Island Lake Academy where she developed a deep appreciation for elementary students and staff.

“She’s very focused on students and their outcomes, and that just radiates from her every day,” said Eric Thompson, Phillip O. Berry’s orchestra director. “Every interaction and every decision she makes is about making progress and moving things forward.”

Branham is currently in her third year at Phillip O. Berry. One of the best parts of the job is interacting with the students, and not just in the classroom. Branham said it means a lot when students invite her to their games and other extracurricular activities.

Branham also prides the school on how student-driven the environment is and how strong the alumni are at the school. Even when her children were students at Phillip O. Berry, she noticed how proud the students were. From the sports to the clubs, the students make themselves known on campus.

“It’s their space,” she said. “And with us being a full magnet program, it gives them that platform to become leaders in their own way.”

Phillip O. Berry is a districtwide magnet school that offers core academic instruction in STEM and eight career pathways in areas like health sciences, software development and manufacturing. Branham said the strong partnerships with the community provides students with several opportunities to graduate with the skills and support needed to enroll, enlist or find employment. 

“One of the things I’ve been working with my team is getting our students through our pathways within their first two, two and a half years,” said Branham. “There are so many opportunities for our students to do dual enrollment, our ROC program, which we partner with CPCC, or our Road to Hire program. So with all these resources available to our students, I want to make sure that our students are getting the best opportunities with what we’re able to offer.”

Branham was recently named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Principal of the Year finalist for  High School Performance Area A, and she is appreciative of the recognition.

“There are great principals across the district and within the performance area,” said Branham. “To be a finalist among the ones identified is an honor.”

“It’s an absolutely well-deserved award,” added Thompson.