MNPS Voices: Brittney Hines

MNPS Voices: Brittney Hines, Secretary Clerk, West End Middle School
Posted on 08/17/2022
Brittney Hines portrait
Brittney Hines is starting her 16th year with Metro Nashville Public Schools and says she is still excited about supporting the students in her eighth year at West End Middle School. mnps voices

Hines currently serves in multiple roles at West End, including as the front office secretary clerk, the director of extended care programs and the cheerleading and track coach. She does whatever she can to assist everyone in need.

Dr. Erma Laymon, assistant principal at West End, has worked alongside Hines since she arrived there.

“We simply love her dedication and the work she does to support our students, staff and families,” Laymon said.

Hines moved to Nashville as an elementary student from Oklahoma City after her family’s home was destroyed in a tornado. She attended Dan Mills Elementary, then went on to Isaac Litton for middle school before graduating from Hunters Lane High School.

She then studied economics and finance at Middle Tennessee State University. But after graduating, she found the world of banking unfulfilling.

Hines credits her grandparents with teaching her two life lessons: be a critical thinker and be a risk taker. Therefore, she took the risk and made a career shift and accepted a position as a substitute teacher at Sylvan Park Elementary School. She was eventually hired there as a paraprofessional before transitioning into a similar role in Hillsboro High School’s Transition program. The program allowed Hines to focus her attention on individual student support, which she found was her passion.

“This gave me a taste of what I liked, and that’s when I fell in love with Metro and the exceptional education department,” Hines said. “Prior to that, my job was a means to an end.”

After discovering her passion, Hines knew she wanted to work with students, but not as a classroom teacher. Her role as a front office worker gives her an opportunity to directly provide the best individualized support to students, families and teachers.

Hines and her husband are proud MNPS products who currently have a 10th grade daughter in the district and a son who graduated from Hillsboro High School’s International Baccalaureate program with a full academic scholarship. Hines is an active parent and proud of the work happening within the Hillsboro cluster.

She adamantly believes people should be the change they want to see. Therefore, after feeling unnoticed and not important in some roles, she is determined to make sure the 400-plus students at West End never feel that way.

“I make it a point to learn every student by name, and I address them by name when they come into the office. It takes some time, but I eventually get there,” Hines said.

Hines says her journey in MNPS has been exciting, and she is grateful for all the experiences she’s had and for those who have mentored her along the way.

“Life has a way of coming full circle. When I was at Hunters Lane, I ran track under the great Coach Joanne Tribue, who has now become a mentor to me as a track coach.”

When Hines is not multi-tasking in MNPS, she loves to travel with her family, hike and spend time outdoors with nature. She says she will continue to do all she can to support the district and her cluster in every way possible.
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MNPS Voices,Team MNPS