Who is Mrs. Brelinda C. Sullen?

Mrs. Brelinda Gail Copeland Sullen came to Tuskegee from Doerun, Georgia, to attend Tuskegee Institute, presently Tuskegee University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1985, her Master of Science degree in Counseling and Student Development in the Spring of 1987, and continued through the Summer of 1987 to complete her second Master of Education degree in School Counseling in the Summer of 1987. She received her Ed.S in Counseling Education from Auburn University and obtained Educational Leadership Certification from Albany State University.

She became an educator in 1987 and has served in the capacity of an effective teacher, counselor, coach, and administrator during her tenure in the Macon County School System.  

While at Tuskegee Institute, Mrs. Sullen earned All-American honors as a basketball player for four years. She was Freshman All-American, 1981-82, and Kodak All-American, 1981-1985. She was also selected All-SIAC regular season and tournament teams.   Other awards and accomplishments are Tuskegee University Hall of Fame Inductee, a participant in the NCAA Division II National Championships Runner-up (1982), 4-Times All SIAC Team (1981-1985), MVP SIAC Tournament (1984), several regular season All-Tournament Teams and she was offered a contract to play professional basketball overseas in Germany (1985)

As an educator, Mrs. Sullen considers herself as a transformational leader. Anything that she is involved with, she aims to positively change. She appeals to the mind and heart in all that she does. She encourages, inspires, and motivates stakeholders to perform in ways that create meaningful change for our classrooms and schools. 

In 1999, Brelinda returned to her hometown, Colquitt County High School, Moultrie, Georgia, and Worth County High Sylvester, Georgia, where she worked in the area for six years as a school counselor and a head girls' basketball coach. She took a team that was only winning 2-3 games a year to the SWEET 16 in two years.

In 2004, Brelinda returned to Alabama and began teaching at Notasulga High School. She worked in many capacities at Notasulga High School and Tuskegee Institute Middle School, including teacher, counselor, coach, and assistant principal. Since 2007, she served as an administrator for the Macon County Schools. She began as principal at Notasulga High School in 2008 and was transferred as principal at Booker T. Washington High School in 2015. While serving as principal at both schools, her transformational concepts were implemented; the results are showcased in a documentary named "Love Goes Public!"  

With 36+ years of professional experience in education, Brelinda also mentors and tutors students in the community and church. She worked as a community coach for more than five years. She is also actively involved in community health initiatives "and is a member of the Tuskegee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.

Brelinda is constantly seeking motivational and creative ways to foster a dynamic learning environment that promotes high-quality education for the students in the Macon County School System. She is known as the educator who shows “LOVE.”  She feels that with love, one can accomplish anything. Her belief as a loving educator is to focus on character first because she knows that intellect will get one inside a door, but his character will keep him there.   

She is married to John Frank Sullen; they have three children; Nekesha, Myra, and John, II; five grandchildren, DeUntate, Alex, Aniya, Hezikeiah, and Britton.