About Our School
The Linda Bryant School was founded in 2026 by James Anthony Parker, M.Ed., in honor of the remarkable women whose love, guidance, and example shaped both his life and his purpose. The school proudly bears the name of his grandmother, the late Linda L. Bryant, who passed away on December 16, 2024. Linda was known for her compassion, her generosity, and her unwavering belief that every child deserved dignity, opportunity, and someone who believed in them. Her home was a sanctuary where children were encouraged, fed, and reminded that their futures had value. Her legacy is reflected in the school’s commitment to care, equity, community, and transformative education.
Another foundational inspiration is James’s sister, KaShawna, whose influence extends beyond her early support in his education. She is the devoted mother of his niece, Kobe Lollis, and her exceptional parenting became the guiding vision for the KaShawna L. Lollis Lower School. The routines she established to help Kobe thrive, the way she nurtures curiosity while setting high expectations, and the love, structure, and consistency she provides each day shaped the philosophy for our K–4 program. The Lower School is built on the belief that every child deserves the same intentionality, encouragement, and emotional safety that KaShawna gives her daughter — learning rooted in joy, affirmation, and the promise of untapped potential.
As students enter grades 5–8, they transition into the Jackie Hopgood Upper School, named in honor of James’s beloved aunt, Jackie Hopgood. Jackie is known for her strength, leadership, and unwavering integrity — qualities the Upper School seeks to instill in young adolescents. These grades are a formative period marked by growth, identity, and increasing independence. The Upper School blends academic rigor with character and leadership development, teaching students to communicate effectively, take responsibility for their choices, collaborate with others, and rise to challenges with resilience. Jackie’s example reminds students that who they become is just as important as what they learn.
Opening The Linda Bryant School has always been more than an aspiration for James — it has been a lifelong dream, a goal shaped by family legacy, lived experience, and a deep commitment to the belief that education changes lives. The journey to this moment required years of preparation, sacrifice, and faith. With the doors finally open, the inaugural year carries the theme “The Time Is Now.” This theme reflects the urgency of our mission and the certainty that our children deserve opportunity today — not someday. It serves as both a celebration of dreams fulfilled and a charge to everyone in our community: to step forward boldly, to honor the legacy that birthed this school, and to build a future worthy of our students.
Together, Linda, KaShawna, and Jackie form the heart of The Linda Bryant School. Their influence shapes our culture, our expectations, and our unwavering belief in the unlimited potential of children. The school stands as both a tribute and a promise — a tribute to the women who molded James’s life, and a promise to every student who enters our doors: you will be known, supported, challenged, inspired, and believed in. At The Linda Bryant School, we believe that education transforms families, communities, and futures — and we are committed to preparing every learner to thrive academically, emotionally, and personally.
