Morningside Marvels at Its New Principal

In early May, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced the appointment of seven new principals who will greet children for the 2025-2026 school year. One Jewish and experienced educator, Brian Baron, was named principal of the hugely popular Morningside Elementary School. Known for his commitment to students, staff, and families, Baron stated, “When I was officially named principal, it wasn’t a new chapter — it was a continuation of a meaningful journey.”

Raised in Ocean Township, N.J. (just outside of Asbury Park), as a teen, Baron led Shabbat services at his Conservative synagogue which he credits as early signs of the leadership and poise that he would later bring into the classroom. He attended Emory University, earning a B.A. in sociology and Russian linguistics, and a M.Ed. in educational leadership and supervision from the University of Georgia.

His teaching career began in Gwinnett County where he taught high school social studies. Following several years of teaching, he moved into administrative roles, as a high school assistant principal, and transitioning to elementary education leadership in 2012.

In 2016, he joined APS in the Testing and Assessment Department before becoming school business manager at Morningside Elementary in 2018. He returned to an assistant principal role at Morningside in 2023, and was named interim principal in November 2024, before the May announcement.

“The official principal hiring process was comprehensive.” Baron said. “I suppose I could have gone elsewhere — but why? Morningside has become my second home. It’s where my heart is.”

Morningside Elementary serves roughly 700 students in grades K–5 alongside approximately 90 staff members. Baron emphasizes the importance of teamwork: “We cannot operate successfully for kids if our staff didn’t have the ‘all hands on deck’ mindset that truly builds a successful experience for our Dolphins,” referring to the school mascot.

Baron summarized his principal duties as daily opportunities to inspire, lead, and connect with members of the school community. He jokes, “There is little I don’t enjoy about the job — even being up before the sunrise. I’m a very early riser, often at 4 a.m., and I’m ready to go!”

This reporter called the school after 4:30 p.m., and Baron came to the phone sans voice mail.

As a public neighborhood school, Morningside enrolls every student living within its attendance zone. Baron stated, “My goal is to make Morningside the only choice for kids in the community as we instill a foundation for the love of learning through excellence in teaching, and through the experiences we are able to provide at the elementary level.”

As an experienced educator, Baron believes parents today are no different in their love and hopes for their children than previous generations — they simply face newer challenges. He explained, “Parents want the best experiences and meaningful levels of education for their children. We are so fortunate to be able to meet them at the table to do so.”

When asked which characteristics define successful children, Baron emphasizes curiosity above all. “A curious child turns into a curious adult, allowing full openness to a variety of outcomes for their futures.”

He’s also candid about the challenges today’s children face like the influence of social media — even at the elementary school level. “Our kids at Morningside are so aware of the world around them. We approach all issues with a wide-open educational lens, carefully, and holistically navigate topics like politics, race relations, digital citizenship to name a few,” he said.

Baron offers five tips to parents:
1: Take a breath. “You give us your best daily so we can give them our best daily. We’ve got this!”
2: Trust in their resilience. “Kids aren’t as fragile as many think. They are inquisitive, resilient, and highly capable.”
3: Let kids be kids. “Elementary school is a time to learn, make mistakes, and to grow emotionally.”
4: Shield them from adult stress. “Discuss adult issues out of their earshot — they’re incredible sponges.”
5: Be a partner with the school. “We’re in this together for one reason – our kids. We need your support.

Morningside Elementary is located at 1053 East Rick Springs Road. It is part of the Midtown Cluster, including areas like Lenox Park, Piedmont Heights, and Ansley Park with the Morningside neighborhood.