Darren Brown-Hall Asks School of Education Graduating Class to ‘Teach Children How to Think’ at 152nd Commencement

May 20, 2024

Darren J. Brown-Hall, ’96, ’97, superintendent of the Williamsville Central School District, delivered an inspiring speech to the graduating Class of 2024 during the School of Education’s evening Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Brown-Hall addressed a full crowd in the Sports Arena for Buffalo State’s 152nd annual Commencement, during which the university conferred degrees on nearly 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students over three ceremonies.

Brown-Hall referenced Dr. Seuss’s Hooray for Diffendoofer Day. In the book, he explained, the students are anxious that they will not pass their end-of-year test and therefore have to go to school in Flobbertown, far from their beloved teacher, Miss Bonkers. Brown-Hall shared a short passage from the book:

Ms. Bonkers rose. “Don’t fret!” she said.
“You’ve learned the things you need
To past that test and many more—
I’m certain you’ll succeed.
We’ve taught you that the earth is round,
That red and white make pink,
And something else that matters more—
We’ve taught you how to think.”

“That’s what I ask each and every one of you to do,” Brown-Hall said. “Make sure as we appreciate each individual child, you also teach them how to think, and problem solve to decipher information with criticality.”

Brown-Hall earned both a B.S. and M.S. degree in mathematics education from Buffalo State and an M.B.A. from Canisius University with concentrations in finance and management information systems. He also completed his coursework for school and district level administrator certification at Canisius and received an advanced certificate in school business and human resources management from the University at Buffalo, where he also earned his doctor of education in educational administration. He has more than 20 years of experience in the education field, received the Buffalo State EOP Distinguished Alumnus Award in May 2023, and serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Christmann Family Educational Leadership Program at Buffalo State.

Following is the full text of Brown-Hall’s speech:

What an honor it is to be on this stage today—an honor and a great responsibility. I want to be sure you leave here today taking something from this Commencement speech—something meaningful. As an educator, that’s what we hope every child leaves our school or district with, something meaningful! And indeed, we accomplish that every day.

Let’s start with a simple math game to get us all on the same page. Many people do breathing exercises, or stretches. I want to be sure we’re on the same page so please indulge me. The math will be simple, no need for your phone’s calculator…

Now that we are all on the same page, I would first like to acknowledge and show my appreciation to President Bonita Durand, Dean Wendy Paterson, my distinguished colleagues in the School of Education, all of the graduates, parents, and friends who have gathered here today to celebrate your achievement. I want to acknowledge my parents, without whom I would not be here today, and also my supportive and loving husband, Chris, who not only stands by my side, but is always on my side.

I would like to also publicly show my appreciation to Mrs. Florence Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was the director of the Student Support Program when I was a young student here at Buffalo State. She and the EOP staff believed in this young Black man, who was on academic probation after his first year, who just didn’t find himself yet—but would go on to find himself and do great things—although I didn’t believe it at the time. A bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, a doctorate, and being superintendent of the largest suburban district in Erie and Niagara counties with a budget that is almost a quarter of a billion dollars… I’m starting to believe it.

So, at the age of 50, I have had the pleasure of speaking in front of many groups, hearing many speakers at conferences and workshops. And many times you will hear the speakers mention that there were people who didn’t believe in them. How there may have been a guidance counselor or teacher who told them to pursue another career, or they weren’t cut out to be what their hearts had desired.

I fortunately can’t relate to that testimony. I was blessed to have teachers and counselors and church members who spoke life into me all the time. They never thought that I couldn’t do anything. They were always encouraging. They saw all of the promise, the ability, the brilliance in me. As Dr. Yolanda Sealy Ruiz explains, we should always look to uncover the brilliance in all of our students. The educators in my life, including my mother, who was a teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools, did that all of the time, and insisted that anyone around her children also spoke life into us. Many of these individuals were educators, but more importantly, not only were they credentialed, they were qualified.

At a recent superintendent meeting, one of my colleagues asked that question: Are the new generation of teachers credentialed, or qualified? We, as superintendents, administrators, and individuals who take part in the hiring process, are looking for you all not to be just credentialed but also qualified. Take a minute and turn to your neighbor and ask, “Are you credentialed…and qualified?”

The difference is similar to the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that a tomato doesn’t belong in fruit salad.

After you’ve walked this stage, received your degree, taken—and passed—your certification tests, applied and paid your money for your certification, you are then credentialed—and ready to be hired. But to be qualified…it takes a lot more.

It takes someone who loves kids, someone who will fully embrace the New York State Culturally Responsive–Sustaining Education framework. It takes someone who allows all students to be their authentic self in the classroom and not leave anything at the schoolhouse door they must “pick up” on the way home—their disability, their sexuality, their modern family makeup… They can bring it all into the classroom.

It means ensuring that the class curriculum is reflective of all the students who make up our globally diverse communities. It means making certain that diverse text from diverse authors is not something out of the ordinary but is common practice in your classroom, and in your school building. Someone who realizes that you can be strict but compassionate at the same time, and someone who doesn’t suffer from “rigor pity.” It also means believing in the potential of all of your students, speaking life and ability into them, and never doubting their talent, desire, or passion for what their heart desires.

As I wrap up, I want to share with you an excerpt from a Dr. Seuss book. Not your traditional Oh, the Places You’ll Go! but from Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! The students that attend Diffendoofer School have a teacher, Miss Bonkers, who loves to teach, and the students love being in her class, but if the students don’t pass this end-of-year test, their school may be shut down, and they will have to attend school in Flobbertown. The day of the big test, all the students are anxious, nervous, and even scared. Ms. Bonkers sees this and leaps from her desk. The book continues:

That’s what I ask each and every one of you to do—make sure as we appreciate each individual child, you also teach them how to think, and problem solve to decipher information with criticality, as Toni Morrison explains.

We are expecting a lot from each and every one of you, because you will have the next generation in your classes and schools every day. You have to leave a legacy, and as a phenomenal educator Naomi Cerre explained at Principal Crystal Barton’s memorial: to leave a legacy you have to live a legacy.

Thank you for this opportunity, and I once again appreciate you for having me here today and the honor of being a distinguished alumnus.

Photo by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.

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