Minga passes to boarding passes: BradyLong's story

Vice Principal Bradylong on a golf cart (Henry Miller / The Puma Prensa)

By Henry Miller, staff writer

As most students know, Maria Carrillo High School would not be where it is today without the amazing work of our staff. Beginning in August 1996, Carrillo’s excellence has been tenderly fostered for almost thirty years. A graduate from Carrillo herself, Vice Principal BradyLong is just one example of Carrillo's prestige. 

As vice principal, BradyLong's work varies from day to day. She recounts that her favorite part of her job is “easily the students." As a long time Puma, she knows that "Pumas are amazing people" and that she loves "how much the student body has embodied the graduate profile." 

BradyLong’s history at Carrillo has come in "phases" as she recalls. As a student, her most impactful memory was being part of “every fifteen minutes," a [short film] which simulates car crashes caused by drunk driving. "I've [made] some really great lifelong friends through [those] 48 hours that we were in emotional turmoil together," BradyLong recalls. 

As an Earth Science, Living Earth, Physics, and Anatomy teacher at Carrillo, BradyLong's favorite memory was the cadaver lab. It was really influential to see the anatomy kids "learning about the human body" and their studies accumulating into "one pivotal moment". She describes her favorite moment as vice principal when "you're able to be that safe person for [someone] on campus."

From her many years here, BradyLong hopes to have "helped kids become the best version of an adult that they can." She found that as a science teacher, things have always been very structured, going "from point A to point B.” She explained that teaching students has taught her "flexibility."

I know what everyone is thinking, what else could she possibly do? Starting next year, BradyLong will be moving to Peru's capital, Lima, to teach IB Biology at an international school. This summer she is excited to visit Peru with Spanish teacher Harrington to see her hometown. In the future, BradyLong hopes to accomplish "more world travel" and can't wait to hit as many South American countries as possible while she's there. With two short weeks left in the school year, make sure you talk to this globetrotter before she goes off to travel the world.