Johnson College Prep

About – Brianna Giles

I’m a proud Chicago native with a passion for serving diverse student populations on the city’s Southside. I began my career in education as a paraprofessional at therapeutic day schools, where I saw firsthand the impact of showing up consistently for students and creating safe, affirming environments.

My interest in social-emotional learning and the overall student experience deepened during my time at Chicago Public Schools, which eventually led me to Noble. I joined Johnson College Prep in November 2021 as a Culture Specialist while pursuing my Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership. From the beginning, I expressed a strong desire to grow into the Dean of Students role—and through the support of incredible mentorship on my campus and my experience in the Diverse Leaders Fellowship (Cohort 5), I was able to make that vision a reality.

Since then, I’ve served as Assistant Dean of Students, then Dean of Students for two years, and now I’m stepping into my new role as Assistant Principal of Johnson.

Much of my purpose and work is grounded in centering student and family experiences. To me, that means actively listening to their voices, advocating for their needs, and designing systems that reflect their lived realities. It’s about building trust, fostering belonging, and ensuring that every decision—from policies to programming—reflects what’s best for our students and their families. I believe students thrive when they feel seen, heard, and supported both inside and outside the classroom, and I strive to make that a consistent reality in every space I lead.