Our Team

This is my 4th year at King Arts and in Evanston. When I am not here at work I am spending as much time as possible with my husband, Charles, and my sons, Tre (4) and Louis (2).

The 2023-2024 school year will mark my 14th year in education. Since graduating from DePaul University, I have had the opportunity to work with communities in historically underserved schools throughout the city's South and West Sides, including a TurnAround Arts school in North Lawndale. I believe wholeheartedly that education is an equalizer and so too are the arts.

This principalship provides me the chance to work collaboratively with teachers on a daily basis, while also remaining connected to students as they learn, grow and connect with the world around them through the arts.

My time so far at King Arts has given me the opportunity to see the potential that lies within the students, staff and community. My goal is to continue to build upon the systems and structures that were strategically laid in place during my time as Assistant Principal, while exploring new ways to decrease the racial opportunity and achievement gap, maximize community involvement and student voice, and increase the coherence of all of the programming that King Arts has to offer.

Erica Brunson, a New Jersey native, received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from The University of Illinois at Chicago in 2001. She worked as an accountant for years before receiving her master's degree in Teaching from National Louis University in Chicago. She has just completed her master's degree in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University in December 2023.

She taught middle school math and was instrumental in improving student learning in turnaround schools in Chicago Public Schools.  In 2019, her family relocated to Louisville, Kentucky where she co-designed and co-created the Louisville Teaching Residency. This program was developed to recruit more teachers of color that would represent the student body in Jefferson County, Kentucky. She aided in the recruitment and placement of 30 student teachers and 15 mentor teachers. In addition, she taught summer classes for the residents at The University of Louisville College of Education and prepared monthly professional developments for the cohort. Today, approximately 80% of those resident students are certified teachers within the district. 

During her time at Nichols Middle School, Erica served as the academic instructional coach and the Assistant Principal, supporting 6th grade students and teachers. Working intimately with the School Improvement Team, she supported teachers within their professional learning communities and forged partnerships with district-level staff as the site coordinator for the AVID program.

She enjoys karaoking, watching movies, reading, scrapbooking, traveling, walking along the lake, and spending time with family and friends.