One Lucky Principal

Brady is a dedicated and visionary educational leader with over 25 years of experience serving students, families, and school communities across district, charter, and private school systems throughout Arizona. His career reflects a deep commitment to building strong school cultures, developing student potential, and empowering educators to lead with purpose.

Education runs deep in Brady’s roots. The son of lifelong educators—his father a music and band teacher for 37 years, and his mother a kindergarten teacher for 34 years—Brady discovered his passion for working with children early on. While still in high school and college, he coached Little League Baseball, Junior Golf, and youth basketball camps, which ignited his calling to pursue a career in education.

In 2001, Brady earned his degree in Social Studies and Secondary Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Trading harsh North Dakota winters for sunshine and opportunity, he relocated to Tempe, Arizona, where he launched his teaching career in the Tempe Elementary School District.

Over 15 years in the district, Brady served in a variety of impactful roles including Physical Education Teacher, Baseball Coach, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and ultimately, Principal. Each role shaped his leadership philosophy and fueled his belief in the transformative power of education when it is centered on relationships, creativity, and a child-first mindset.

In 2006, Brady earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with distinction from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Alongside his graduate studies, he also completed the requirements for his Arizona Principal Certificate, solidifying his path as a transformational school leader.

In 2008, Brady was honored by the Rodel Foundation of Arizona as an Aspiring Principal, a prestigious recognition awarded to emerging leaders with a track record of excellence and potential for broader impact. As part of this honor, he participated in an intensive two-year mentorship and professional development program designed to foster leadership capacity in Arizona’s most promising educational administrators.

Brady has also contributed to the professional learning community through his writing. He was a contributing author for "Successful Data Teams" and penned articles for the White Paper Series and Lead & Learn Magazine, sharing insights on effective data use, instructional leadership, and sustainable school improvement practices.

A sought-after speaker and facilitator, Brady has led numerous professional development sessions, webinars, and training events—both in-person and virtual—for educators, school leaders, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. His areas of expertise includes; School Culture Climate Student & Staff Engagement, Data-Driven Decision Making, PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Implementation. Through these experiences, Brady has equipped hundreds of professionals with the tools, strategies, and inspiration needed to lead meaningful change and create environments where all students can thrive.

In 2017, Brady transitioned into a principalship at a charter school in Arizona, where he led with vision, purpose, and a student-centered philosophy. Under his leadership, the school experienced remarkable growth—increasing enrollment from 180 to over 370 students within seven years—while cultivating a strong, supportive community rooted in innovation and academic excellence.

Brady and his team implemented a Finland-inspired educational model that emphasized three core pillars: Education, Play, and Family. This approach fostered joyful, collaborative learning environments where students engaged actively, built meaningful relationships, and developed a genuine love for learning. His educational philosophy is simple yet profound: “When students are excited and happy in school, it is inevitable that they will grow—academically, emotionally, and socially.”

The school gained widespread recognition for its achievements and commitment to excellence, earning East Valley Tribune’s Best of the Best Charter School award from 2018–2023 and Best of Mesa Charter School and Pre-School from 2018–2024.

During Brady’s tenure, the school was also awarded numerous grants and formed strategic partnerships that expanded student opportunities. These included support from KaBoom Playgrounds, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, NFL Play 60, Corbin’s Legacy, DonorsChoose, Fiesta Bowl Charities, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, The Marley Foundation, and Panda Express/Arizona State University Writer’s Workshop.

Brady’s leadership in the charter school sector demonstrated the transformative power of intentional culture-building, innovation, and a relentless belief in what is possible for every child.

Best Principal

Most recently, Brady founded One Lucky Principal, a national educational speaking, consulting, and coaching firm dedicated to inspiring and equipping educators, leaders, and organizations to drive meaningful change. Through this platform, Brady partners with school districts, individual schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, leadership teams, and educators to deliver impactful professional development experiences designed to create immediate and lasting improvement in culture, climate, engagement, and leadership practices. Drawing from both his extensive background and his innovative Finland-inspired model—Educational Model Evolution, which focuses on Play, Education, and Family—Brady continues to help educators reimagine what’s possible in teaching and learning.

To further extend his reach and share his message of purpose-driven leadership, Brady has also launched a YouTube channel and established active communities on Facebook and Instagram under the name One Lucky Principal, where he shares insights, success stories, and innovative strategies to elevate education nationwide.

Best of the Best Principal

From 2020 to 2024, Brady was honored as the Best of the Best Principal by the Arizona East Valley Tribune, a distinguished recognition awarded annually to top educational leaders in the Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert communities. This award reflects Brady’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and student-centered leadership.

Brady currently serves as the Head of School at Summit School in Ahwatukee, a premier non-profit, private, independent school that serves students from Toddler through 8th grade. Under his leadership, Summit School continues to thrive as a place where academic excellence, creativity, and whole-child development are celebrated and nurtured.

Outside of his professional work, Brady is deeply rooted in family. He is married to Andrea, a fellow educator and school administrator, and together they are raising three energetic boys. Their family is completed by their beloved dog, Lucy. Brady’s personal and professional life is grounded in his belief in the power of education, community, and connection.