Brian Kelly has served as Principal of Martin Luther King College Preparatory High School for five years, and in those five years he has made a difference. On May 9, Principal Kelly was presented with the Golden Apple Foundation’s 2024 “Excellence in Leadership Award” in a ceremony that took place in the school’s auditorium.
The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school, created a culture of inclusivity, and delivered dramatic
student growth.
At the beginning of his ceremony speech, Kelly took the time to talk about a few students who initially did not meet the admission requirements for King college prep. However, he gave those students the opportunity to attend the selective enrollment high school, and each of those students came to be top performers in each of their classes.
One of Kelly’s hopes is that King college prep becomes a school of choice for all students across Chicago.
“This award is just a testament or validation that we’re on the right track and that we have more work to do,” Kelly said.
In attendance of the ceremony were Pedro Martinez, Chicago Public Schools CEO, Lamont J. Robinson, Alderman of the 4th ward, Alan Mather, President of the Golden Apple Foundation and Nancy Northrip, Chairwoman of the Golden Apple Foundation.
According to the Golden Apple Foundation, Kelly has increased the attendance from 89 percent, in September of 2019, to 94 percent over the last four years. He also increased the school-wide grade point average (GPA) from 2.59 to 3.77 and the graduation rate by 11 percent.
Kelly has served as the Principal of King College Prep since 2019. He has held various positions throughout Chicago Public Schools for over 20 years. He holds multiple degrees from DePaul University, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and Concordia University Chicago. In 2021, he completed his Doctorate degree, from UIC, in Urban Education and Leadership. “How do you create an environment that’s safe enough for people to be vulnerable?” Kelly asked. He went on to say that his Doctorate degree taught him how to take the needs of students from a classroom and apply them throughout a school.
Kelly recalled initially being discouraged from even applying for the Principal’s position at King College Prep. The discouragement came as a result of some colleagues suggesting that taking on the role of the principal of a school that has a history of student walkouts, along with other turmoil, would kill his career.
He eventually applied after he was encouraged to do so by a King College Prep insider. As a leader, Kelly prides himself in prioritizing relationships with students. He said he did not know his principals when he was in school and does not want the students at King College Prep to have that same experience. He stated that so far, he knows the names of 500 of King’s 700 incoming students. If students were to describe him, he said they would probably use words like “sincere” and “silly.”
Amarion Sharkey, recent graduate of King College Prep, who aspires to be a high school English teacher, said he would use the word “personable” to describe his former principal. Sharkey says that Kelly is someone who is approachable and fair. He further stated that he was not shocked to hear that Kelly was chosen as recipient of the “Excellence in Leadership” award. As Sharkey reminisced on his time as a student, he remembers Kelly and the way he interacted with students and the energy that he brought as Principal.
“He has a very particular way that he carries himself and he really does stick by it,” Sharkey said.
The “Excellence in Leadership” award consists of a plaque of honor and $10,000. With the award funds, Kelly plans to do a few things. His plans include celebrating the students who achieve a certain SAT score.
Other plans include investing in the high school becoming “Apple Certified,” meaning teachers and staff are trained and certified in using Apple products.
According to Kelly, 100 percent of teachers are “Apple Certified.”
To learn more about the Golden Apple “Excellence in Leadership” Award, visit goldenapple.org.
Ebony Ellis is a writer born and raised in Chicago. When she is not writing, she is listening to a good audiobook, exploring her community, and spending time with loved ones. Ebony is a lifelong South-sider with bylines in the Chicago Sun times, City Bureau and YR Media.
