National Assistant Principals Week (April 6-10, 2026) is an annual celebration recognizing the dedication and hard work of the education leaders who play a crucial role in supporting teachers, motivating students, assisting principals, and fostering positive learning environments in schools. The Surge Institute is highlighting some of the many assistant principals within our network who are creating sustainable impact in their communities. This week, we celebrate Brandi Whitfield-Lewis. 

Brandi Whitfield-Lewis (TLC24) entered The Leadership Collaborative as the self-described Assistant Principal of Chicago’s Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language. Upon completing her cohort, Brandi makes an important clarification: “I am Assistant Principal of Calmeca Academy. 

When Brandi reflects on her experiences with Surge and the Black Principals Network, which operates The Leadership Collaborative, and thinks about her journey as an assistant principal, three descriptors undergird her pride: confidence, impact, and family. 

Confidence 

Brandi reveals that she struggled with imposter syndrome when she began her current role at Calmeca Academy, a school with a bilingual curriculum, located in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, and whose staff and student population are also predominantly Hispanic.

It’s not that Brandi wasn’t qualified, because having spent two decades in the classroom, she certainly was. More so, she was an unexpected candidate. She was the first Black administrator to serve the school, and she was also not a bilingual speaker. She encountered a community skeptical of her abilities. 

Brandi joined TLC a year into her current role, crediting the network for giving her renewed confidence to combat imposter syndrome and skepticism. She leveraged knowledge and support gleaned from BPN’s stable  of coaches and therapists.

“BPN helped me create a language that allowed me to frame my differences as strengths, as well as methods for mining data that could demonstrate success,” Brandi says. “BPN helped me understand my impact.”

Impact 

Now four years into her role, Brandi continues to focus on the connectedness and well-being of her community. Her impact is both concrete and substantial: Students are more present (a 13.5% decrease in chronic absenteeism), more healthy (medical compliance rates rising to 90%+), and more stable (staff/student mobility decreasing to less than 8%). New initiatives, such as a Daddy and Me Dance and safety-training seminars for staff, have also been well received. Brandi reports a wonderful working relationship with her principal and continues to take courses to approach proficiency in Spanish. 

Family 

Brandi describes Surge and Black Principals Network as being an extension of her family, not just during her TLC experience, but afterwards as well. A month after completing the cohort, tragedy struck: Her brother was killed in a car accident. BPN friends offered continual support, sending flowers, calls, texts, and daily check-ins. 

The year after her TLC cohort ended, Brandi and three friends traveled to Washington, D.C., at their own expense, to support the participants in the next cohort. And she stays in frequent contact with peers from throughout BPN for thought-partnering, discerning data strategy, and fellowship. 

“To ensure the sustainability of Black leadership, we must be intentional about reaching back,” Brandi says. “BPN and Surge have been instrumental in my leadership development and I am honored to share the wealth of knowledge and support I’ve received with future cohorts and leaders to help them thrive.” 

The Surge Institute is grateful for leaders like Brandi Whitfield-Lewis who are pouring their goodness into their communities.