Bryant Middle School

Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Bryant: Answering The Call

At Collegeville Elementary, being bold and brave means stepping up when students need you most. In July, the school faced a sudden need for a Special Education teacher: and Gina Milam answered the call.

“It was a hard one, in a way, because I didn’t wanna leave my team,” Milam said. “But those CBI babies, I really needed someone to step in and take that place. I already had the license to do it, so I wanted to try something new and be there for those kids.”

“Seeing those babies smile and light up and having someone there for them, and then also just seeing the growth they’ve already made in this school year—it’s been really fun,” she shared. “We just kind of formed this wonderful team—me and my three wonderful paras. We tackle all the challenges together to make those kids feel loved and appreciated.”

Assistant Principal Justin Leaton said her decision perfectly embodies this year’s district mantra. “Gina has really showcased ‘Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Bryant’ from the beginning this year. Starting off, we had a need in the CBI classroom, and she was anxious to jump in that role. That’s not the easiest thing to do, coming from a regular classroom into the special education world, but she embraced the challenge wholeheartedly.”

“She’s meeting every student where they are, to do what’s best for them,” Leaton added. “That’s our mission here at Collegeville—love, learn, and grow together—and Gina has done that wholeheartedly from day one.”

Watch the video here