It is time to turn the spotlight on Kathryn Bremner, MRSH National Faculty member from Richmond, Virginia.

Ms. Bremner is the Associate Executive Director for the Virginia Middle School Association and a strong advocate for cultivating a true middle school environment in today’s classrooms. She serves on the Virginia Advisory Council for Education of the Gifted and is a member of the board of directors for Virginia Schools to Watch, a program that identifies outstanding middle grades schools. “Too often, middle schools are dismissed as ineffective. Any school that is truly operating on the principles of the middle school philosophy is doing the best possible thing for its students—in every arena. Middle schools are perfect settings for relationship-building, and any time you can establish a relationship with a child, he will want to work—to be successful—for you.”

A graduate of Bridgewater College with an M.Ed. from James Madison University, Ms. Bremner taught 6 th grade mathematics and science at a highly diverse middle school in Harrisonburg, VA, prior to relocating to Richmond. Her positive experiences there have influenced her conviction that teamwork is vital. “I had the unique good fortune of spending all 10 years on the same instructional team,” she says. “What a wonderful way to strengthen professional relationships!” As an adjunct faculty member at James Madison University, Ms. Bremner strove to convey the importance of collaboration, not isolation, for educators and their students. “It is so critical that educators understand the importance of collaborative effort,” she says. “The need to work with others is heightened in today’s world. We have a responsibility to teach our students collaborative and cooperative strategies.” To this end, she has presented at numerous conferences at local, state, and national levels on the topics of classroom collaboration and teacher empowerment. Ms. Bremner’s professional expertise, natural enthusiasm, and energetic presentation style keep her in high demand as a speaker and trainer.

After she and her husband moved to Richmond and adopted their son, Andrew, Ms. Bremner’s activities increased to include the role of preschool room mother. When asked about hobbies, she merely chuckled, “I love to read, water ski, and travel, but it’s kind of hard to fit a hobby into my life just now. Between education and my son, I am just happy to find an occasional quiet corner where no one will bother me.”

Kathryn Bremner is a dynamic young woman with great heart and many talents. She is a powerful addition to the Modern Red team.

March 2006