Community Champions Spotlight: Brandy Tackett, Principal at Nocatee Elementary School

The Patterson Foundation believes that individuals, organizations, and communities can achieve their goals by working together. By engaging people, businesses, nonprofits, government, and media around shared aspirations, The Patterson Foundation fosters wide participation to create positive changes that impact us all. In this Community Champions series, we are spotlighting Brandy Tackett, Principal at Nocatee Elementary, and learning more about her vision for DeSoto!

Mini Interview
Thank you, Ashley! What a tremendous honor it is to be a part of the work that is occurring in DeSoto County and for this nomination. I truly appreciate being able to do this work. As a child, I was very transient and was in 13 schools in 12 years and lived across many different homes, so this work is very real and purposeful for me. 

1. How long have you lived or worked in DeSoto County?

I am close to completing my third year in DeSoto County as the proud Principal at Nocatee Elementary School. 


2. What programs, organizations, or community efforts are you currently involved in within DeSoto County? 

As the principal of Nocatee Elementary, I’ve really focused on building strong partnerships within our community to make sure our students have what they need to be successful, both academically and personally.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our Angel Tree. We’ve grown that into a program that supports about 75–100 students each year, helping provide clothes, gifts, and basic needs during the holidays.

I’ve also worked closely with community partners to secure over $10,000 in funding to start our Hearing and Vision Legacy Program to support students with hearing and vision needs, which has had a direct impact on their ability to fully access instruction. In addition, we’ve partnered with the American Legion to bring civic literacy opportunities to our students, helping them better understand citizenship, service, and their role in the community.

I have also secured over $5,000 in grant funding to enhance our sensory walkway for our VPK students, creating a space that supports regulation, engagement, and early learning.

Beyond these specific initiatives, we’ve built a network of partnerships that allows us to respond quickly to a wide range of student and family needs—whether it’s supplies, resources, or support—so our students can come to school ready to learn every day.

All of this has been very intentional. I believe strong schools are built through strong relationships, and I’ve made that a priority at Nocatee.


3. What’s your favorite thing about life in DeSoto County?  

What I love most about life in DeSoto County is the sense of shared responsibility and pride in what we do for kids. In larger districts, there are often more resources, and sometimes this means more clearly defined roles. In DeSoto, because we’re smaller, we all wear multiple hats—and that’s actually one of our greatest strengths. There isn’t “someone else” to take care of things. We are all hands in, all hands on deck, every single day for our students.

That creates a different level of ownership and commitment. You feel it in the work, and you see it in how deeply people care about children and families.

DeSoto is also a tight-knit community. We’re not just educating students—we’re helping raise future citizens who will come back and serve this community. There’s a real sense of generational accountability and pride in that.

We focus on the whole child and the whole family, and those relationships run deep. That connection is what makes this work meaningful and what makes DeSoto such a special place to be.


4. What positive changes have you witnessed in the community over the years?

One of the most meaningful changes I’ve seen over the years is the shift in how families view Nocatee Elementary.

When I first started, many families saw Nocatee as simply the school they were assigned to—the only option. But over time, I’ve watched that mindset change. Now, families are choosing Nocatee out of a sense of pride. They know the work we do every day for children. They’re proud of the school, proud of the work happening here, and proud to be part of our community. You can feel that difference in the way families engage, support the school, and talk about their experiences.

Another change I’m especially proud of is the growth of our VPK program this year. This has been huge for our youngest learners. There is so much research behind early intervention and its impact on long-term academic success, and we are now able to provide that strong foundation right here at Nocatee.

Being part of that work—knowing we are getting to students earlier and setting them up for success—has been incredibly meaningful.

Overall, that shift, from obligation to pride, along with our expansion of early learning opportunities, has been one of the most powerful and rewarding changes to witness. It reflects the collective effort of our staff, students, and community.


5. What are your hopes or aspirations for the future of DeSoto County?

My hope for the future of DeSoto County is that we continue the momentum we’ve built over the past several years.

I’m especially excited about the enrichment opportunities we’re building across all schools—from our college and career readiness programs to initiatives like the middle school Space Academy and our growing partnerships with our local college. These experiences are opening doors for our students in ways we haven’t seen before, and this is just the beginning.
 
Moving forward, I want to be part of continuing to ask, how do we do even more? How do we expand opportunities, increase real-world experiences, and create stronger connections for our students in a small, tight-knit community like ours?

It’s an exciting time to be in DeSoto County, and I’m proud to be part of the work that’s moving us forward.

Thank you, again, for this opportunity to speak about all the things I love in DeSoto


What DeSoto Digest Team Members Shared: 
“Principal Brandi Tackett has truly been an inspirational, caring leader to the Nocatee Elementary School community. She shows up for both students and parents in a way that makes people feel supported, heard, and cared for. Her leadership has played a big role in moving the school forward, including helping improve its grade from a D to a C. She is committed to creating a positive environment and making sure students are set up for success. Her impact is being felt throughout the school and community.” — Ashley Coone, Consultant with The Patterson Foundation