Brookstone School - Be The One

Brookstone’s new Head of Middle School, Maggie Henderson, shares her journey from Signal Mountain, Tennessee, through ten years of teaching overseas, all the way to Columbus. She talks about the mentors who shaped her and the culture she’s building in middle school. She also explains why she believes kids can do more than we think, as long as we support them every step of the way

It’s the fall sports edition of Be the One! Seniors Carsyn Galligan and Broughton Branch sit down to talk about their Brookstone stories and what comes next.

Carsyn grew up in a military family and landed at Brookstone in fourth grade. She talks about finding her people here, driving two and a half hours to club practice, sending 100 recruiting emails a week, and choosing the University of Pennsylvania because academics come first. She also helped lead Cougar volleyball to the first state title in program history.

Broughton has been at Brookstone since 4K. He opens up about the arm surgery that almost ended his playing career, leading Cougar football back from an 0-4 start, and his plans to play at Amherst College and become a lawyer.

Along the way they talk about the teachers who became like family, their favorite traditions, the books that shaped them, and how they recharge.

Hudson Terrell ‘15 did his Brookstone Deliberate Life Project in the restaurant industry. It was the first time he had ever worked in a restaurant, and he says it helped him find his career. After a year playing basketball at App State, he transferred to UGA, started as a dishwasher and busser at Five and Ten, and was the general manager by the time he graduated. Today he owns The Animal Farm and Gabagool in Columbus.

Hudson talks about Coach Sparks and Brookstone basketball, the teachers he still quotes, playing Catan in study hall, and why integrity is the core value that means the most to him.

On this episode of Be the One, we sit down with two Brookstone seniors, Brennan and Lucy Bell, to talk about their summer as Swift Scholars.

Lucy spent three weeks at Brown University in an intensive drawing program, working with charcoal, graphite, and ink, and learning what college-level critiques really feel like. Brennan headed to Duke for a pre-college Introduction to Medicine program, where his group's capstone project took on the youth vaping epidemic. Somehow he also fit in one of the biggest baseball summers of his life, with stops at the Perfect Game and Under Armour All-American games.

They also talk about how they found Brookstone in the first place (shoutout to the tour guides), the freshman retreat, the quad, bonfire night, favorite cafeteria meals, and the teachers who've made the biggest difference for them.

Brookstone's newest board chair, Bo Bickerstaff, has been part of this school for almost his whole life. He enrolled as a kindergartner, graduated 14 years later, came back to coach wrestling, and now has three kids of his own at Brookstone while his wife Katie serves as BPA chair.In this episode, Bo sits down with Head of School [HOST NAME] to talk about growing up on this campus, how wrestling gave an "average athlete" his first real taste of success, his four years at Davidson College, and a 23-year career with Brasfield & Gorrie that started on the Georgia Aquarium. He also shares why courage is the Brookstone core value that means the most to him, the campus spot that still takes him back to first grade, and the best compliment he's ever gotten (from his 14-year-old daughter, no less).

They started as Georgia state champions and ended up making school history: two American Little League All-Star teams, the 12U squad and the 10U squad, both made it to the Southeast Regional this summer. The 12U team, competing as Columbus American LL, went further than any Brookstone-attending group has before, beating West Virginia 5-4 in Warner Robins before falling to Florida and Tennessee. The 10U team went 18-1 on the season, including a state tournament revenge win over two teams that had eliminated them the year before, and made their own regional trip to Wilson, North Carolina.

In this episode, Brookstone students Robert, Sam, Tom, Jack, Cohen, Landry, Will, and Carter break down the plays that got them there, a laser throw from right field, a walk-off in the ninth, the nickname "the magnet" Landry can't shake, and the near-home-run double that ended Sam's season. Brookstone varsity baseball coach Chris Mathis joins to reflect on his own trip to a Little League regional back in 2010, and what this group's run means for what's next.

Travis Wade joins us again on Be the One, this time as he wraps up his three years as chair of the Board of Trustees at Brookstone School. Travis is a true Brookstone lifer, having attended from kindergarten through graduation, and his journey came full circle when his daughters Ruthie and Martha became students here too.In this episode, Travis looks back on the people and moments that shaped him, from his kindergarten teacher to wrestling under Coach Larry Morgan, who taught him lessons about discipline and perspective that stuck with him for life. He also opens up about watching both of his daughters graduate, what it means to step back as a parent while staying connected as an alum, and what he hopes for Brookstone's future, including a wish to one day see grandchildren walk the same halls he did.It's a conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it really means to be part of the Brookstone community for over three decades.

After 33 years of teaching at Brookstone, Joy is closing one chapter and reflecting on a lifetime of memories, relationships, and impact.

In this episode of the Be The One Podcast, Joy shares what it was like growing up at Brookstone as a student, returning years later as a teacher, and eventually teaching the children, and even grandchildren, of former students. From playing in the creek as a kid to coaching basketball, leading yearbook, teaching middle school Spanish, and navigating the changes in education over three decades, this conversation is full of heart, humor, and history.Joy reflects on her earliest memories at Brookstone, the teachers and coaches who shaped her life, athletics and traditions in the 80s, returning to Brookstone after personal tragedy, and the lessons she’s learned from 33 years in the classroom. She also shares what it was like raising her own children at Brookstone, how education has changed over the years, and what she hopes for the future of the school community she’s called home for most of her life.Thank you, Joy, for the decades of love, leadership, and investment into generations of students and families.

At Brookstone, the experience goes far beyond the classroom. In this episode of the Be The One Podcast, we sit down with two seniors just weeks before graduation to reflect on their journey, their growth, and the moments that shaped them. From state championships in cross country and tennis to building lifelong friendships and discovering purpose, their stories highlight what makes Brookstone truly unique. They share their first impressions of the school, the impact of teachers and coaches, what they’ve learned through wins and losses, their favorite traditions and memories, and what lies ahead after graduation. Whether you’re a current family, prospective student, or alumni, this conversation captures the heart of the Brookstone experience.

In this episode of Be the One Podcast, we sit down with Brookstone’s Director of College Guidance to hear the story behind the role, the vision for students, and the heart driving it all.

From moving from Brazil at 14 without speaking English to building a career in education, her journey is marked by resilience, courage, and a deep commitment to helping students find their path. She shares how Brookstone is creating meaningful, student-centered college guidance, including grade-specific programming, parent connections, and opportunities for students to engage with over 30 colleges and universities without ever leaving campus.

This conversation is about more than college admissions. It’s about helping students discover who they are, what they’re called to do, and how to move forward with confidence.