Lake Charles native Brady Bryant, 42, attributes his career to divine intervention. In his youth, he never thought he would be teaching, but when he was an adult and feeling lost, he found his calling. “God led me to this profession at a time when I was at a real crossroads in my life,” he explained. “And I definitely took the road less traveled to get here!”

“This is truly a calling from above.”

However, his late band director, Henry “Huck” Thomas, and other teachers throughout the years planted the seed of inspiration in him while he was in school. “Huck had a great influence on my life… I had some tremendous educators who didn’t pull punches with me.  They helped me to be the man I am today.”

He has spent the last 13 years teaching at a variety of schools. In addition to schools in St. Landry Parish, he has taught at Washington-Marion (his alma mater) and currently, Lake Charles College Prep, Lake Charles Charter Academy and Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy. He is the director of bands and teaches fine arts survey and music appreciation.

As director for the schools, he is tasked with the “beginning and continued development of young musicians in instrumental music.”

His musicians travel across Louisiana and Mississippi to perform in competitions, parades and concerts.

Witnessing the development of students while they are in band and music classes is the part of teaching that Bryant loves. “I love seeing a kid evolve from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can.’”

He makes sure his students can see their own progress so that they feel confident. “I make it my business to remind them of where they were vs. where they are in order for them to see what’s possible when you give it 110 percent.”

He himself is an example of what confidence and drive can accomplish. “I was tasked with building something out of nothing with little to no resources or feeder programs,” he recalled. “So it took a special group of kids to see an intangible vision and trust me and each other that we could carry it out. They truly exceeded my expectations and it has so much to do with the mindset we adopted.”

For Bryant, movement is everything. “You can’t rise to where you’re already standing!”

His students keep him young. “We’ve shared so many laughs and even more tears.”

They also keep him informed. A practice in Bryant’s bandroom is one-on-one time with his students; He takes the time to ask questions about their lives, goals and observations. “Many times I already know the answers, but I love to listen to them collaborate on how to resolve issues and how we as an organization can be better.”

Sometimes, they give him fresh ideas that he had never considered. “It helps us a great deal and it grows their ability to lead and work together,” he said. “Now, they don’t stop at the wall. They either knock it down or build a house!”

Much like his teachers, he aims to be a role model. “There just aren’t enough positive messages to our youth to offset the negative messaging and images they’re inundated with on social media, internet and other mediums.”

Moral ideals are important to instill in students, he said. They are the future, and a proper education is vital for the community’s future. “Connecting the dots of a good education to the future success of our kids needs to be stressed to the highest degree,” he said. “The hope and opportunity it affords can be the difference between a community business owner and a community bane.”

Bryant believes that all educators need to have a fire for the profession. His motto: “Love it, or you will leave it.”

“I know that sounds unvarnished, but you must have a heart for the students you serve. Every loving educator projects into the future of their students, for better or worse.”

He said the students can tell if a teacher’s heart isn’t in it. “You can get all the degrees and certifications you want.  If you don’t care about them, they’ll sniff you out.”