Back Story: Jaclyn Brilliant

Notre Dame really has been a family to me. I remember clearly Sr. Mary and Sr. Virginia visiting me in Brooklyn just days after the birth of my first daughter, Madeline. It was a July heatwave in NYC, and my husband and I had just moved into our new apartment. Mary and Ginny delivered a Pack ‘n Play for Madeline that I would use in the office when I returned to work and gamely sipped refreshments off a cardboard box that was doubling as a coffee table. If that’s not family, what is?

That first summer that I started at ND, in 1990, I literally shared a desk with Bob Grote. Luckily, we hit it off immediately. The building on St. Mark’s Place was nondescript from the outside. In fact, I walked right by it on my way to my job interview, not recognizing it as a school building. There was no gym, no chapel, and the lunch room looked very much like a basement. But there was origami adorning the math classroom, the most beautiful and peaceful library I’d even seen in a high school, and a Tattoo and Cappuccino shop at the corner— it was perfect. Soon Bob and I were painting our new office space together, a former novelty shop called The House of Uncommons, whose name and signage we kept. Somehow, it seemed apt.

The English Department, then led by Mia Schilling, developed the most interesting and current reading lists. Everyone had a deep love of close reading and deep care for the craft of writing. I was thrilled to begin teaching a class after a few years settling into my work in development. Time flew. The school moved to the next hot spot neighborhood—the Meatpacking District, well before it became home to Versace, Google and Tesla. I had a second daughter, Josephine, and eventually, I had the honor of serving as English Department Chair. I’m delighted to still be a member of the ND English Department, now led by the inspiring Scott Vasey.

Beyond the personal and professional, I can’t help but view all the big events of these past three decades through the lens of ND: 9/11 happened right before we moved to the West Village, and my 1st Avenue subway stop to school became a security check point temporarily.

Together with our students, we witnessed the televised inauguration of our nation’s first black president, Barack Obama. I remember gathering around the conference room table with Sr. Mary, Sr. Virginia, and Lydie Kane to listen to Hillary Clinton’s concession speech in 2016. Then COVID struck, and our world turned upside down. I was Principal by then and finding the path between safety for all and continuity for our students was a daily challenge. Nonetheless, we managed to deliver the best possible remote and then hybrid learning. On January 6th of 2020, I was actually hosting a Zoom Alumnae College Panel when my family in the next room started texting me the news. It was a tonic to be talking with some of the most inspirational young alumnae while our country was going through one of its darkest moments.

Over ten years as principal, there were certainly moments of stress and overwhelming responsibility, but more moments of joy and pride. Working sideby-side with Karina Vargas ’02, our new Principal, was an inspiration and a comfort. She was an A+ student in my English class all those years ago, and now she is an A+ administrator. My favorite moments as principal were when I walked the hallways and got to eavesdrop on all the exciting moments that were happening in the classrooms. I always tried to drop an email or mention in person how impressed I was by what I saw and heard outside of any formal observation. I’m sure I didn’t make time to share those positive impressions as much as I wanted to. Now, as Communications Coordinator, I’m delighted that my biggest job is to broadcast the great news about our school. There is no shortage of material Chez Nous, that’s for sure.

These days, I’ve come full circle. I’m back to sharing an office, this time with Jim Hillman, our tireless CFO. I dearly miss the newly retired Bob Grote, but I am enjoying working in the office right around the corner from Penny Grote. So, I’m still part of the family—rooting for ND, impressed by its success, and ever eager to spread the word.

“Over ten years as principal, there were certainly moments of stress and overwhelming responsibility, but more moments of joy and pride. ”

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