Meet The Brilliance Team
Principal Yuri Thornton
Principal Thornton is a Cleveland native and proud graduate of Cleveland Heights High. She started her career teaching in Cleveland Metropolitan Schools before transitioning to a leadership path that took her across the country and around the world.
Ms. Thornton spearheaded teacher development networks in Cincinnati, Texas, and Beijing, China. She spent the last decade building a portfolio of innovative programs that help teachers of all grades and content areas enhance critical pedagogical skills.
Now, Principal Thornton has returned home to lead The Brilliance School in Garfield Heights and promote her vision of equitable education access for local students and teachers. She is hands-on, accessible, and commited to cultivating a culture of excellence, gratitude, and joy.
Principal Thornton holds a Masters in Education and a Doctorate in Education from Lynn University.
Daughn Studamire
Assistant Principal
Assistant Principal Studamire graduated from Bowling Green with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has twenty years of experience as an educator, living by the mantra: “Save every student, one hug at a time.” Ms. Studamire has directed daycare centers, corporate training programs, and worked as a student teacher at one of the top urban school districts in the country. She joined Brilliance as a founding member in 2021, and currently serves as Assistant Principal of Instruction. She still hugs her students every day.
Brent Roach
Dean of Culture
Mr. Roach joined Brilliance in 2024 to be our Dean of Culture. He has over 20 years of experience in education, and spent the last eight years as Dean of Students at Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). In his role as Dean of Culture, Mr. Roach will work to facilitate collaboration between Brilliance scholars, parents, and staff to ensure a high-quality experience for all.
“Brilliance is going great places, and I look forward to helping our scholars reach their full potential.”
The Brilliance team is exceptional, accessible, and engaged. We work in concert to delvier a high-quality experience for all scholars.
Want to join the Brilliance team?
The Brilliance School is seeking passionate and experienced teachers to join our team for the upcoming school year. Check out our Careers page to learn more.