We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our exceptional educators, Ms. Kailey Brenner, our dedicated fourth-grade teacher. Ms. Brenner's journey into teaching is rooted in her lifelong passion for education, nurtured by her experiences as a student here at St. Francis School.
From the moment she could articulate her dreams, Ms. Brenner knew she wanted to be a teacher. She fondly recalls playing "School" as a child, where she eagerly assumed the role of teacher to anyone that was willing to be her student. Inspired by the remarkable educators who influenced her own elementary school years at St. Francis, Ms. Brenner pursued her calling, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in May 2023.
Ms. Brenner's enthusiasm for teaching shines brightly in her fourth-grade classroom. She embraces the unique joys of working with this age group, celebrating their burgeoning independence and relishing in their small victories. Witnessing her students' growth and confidence fills her heart with immense satisfaction, especially when they experience those delightful "light bulb moments" of understanding.
Central to Ms. Brenner's teaching philosophy is the belief that making mistakes is not only acceptable but also integral to the learning process. She cultivates a growth mindset within her classroom, emphasizing that errors are stepping-stones to knowledge and growth. She also utilizes strengths-based learning to help her students become aware of and build upon their God-given talents.
In her classroom, Ms. Brenner focuses on lessons and activities to keep her students engaged and moving. For example, when practicing grammar skills, she has her students answer questions by moving to a certain side of the room to indicate their answer, invites them to find a real-life example in her classroom, or simply has them come up to the board to practice the skill rather than writing in their notebooks. She enjoys incorporating fun review games and activities to help her students practice skills or prepare for a test. Some of these games include Jeopardy, Trashketball, and Stinky Feet, which is the class favorite. Ms. Brenner loves coming up with assignments where students get to research a topic and then create a presentation or project. Some of her favorites this year have been the Saint magazine covers students made for All Saints Day and the extreme weather newspaper article students created during their Weather unit in Science. These types of projects empower her students to take ownership of their learning.
Collaboration and camaraderie are at the heart of Ms. Brenner's classroom environment. She fosters partnerships with fellow teachers to create enriching experiences for her students. For example, she and the 5th grade teacher, Ms. Hanley, planned escape room challenges for their students for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day. These escape rooms were comprised of math and language arts questions that the students needed to solve in order to find a solution to escape. In addition, Ms. Brenner partnered with Mrs. Chatt, Ms. Andres, and Ms. Hanley on a Jesse Tree project through the Building the Kingdom program. During this project, the 3rd-5th graders spent the month of December learning about Advent and preparing for Jesus’ birth on Christmas Day. Ms. Brenner is also leading a Battle of the Books team with Mrs. Esterby. Battle of the Books is a competition where 3rd-5th grade students read an assigned list of books and then compete against other teams at Ellsworth Elementary School to answer questions about the books. These activities and programs give Ms. Brenner’s students a chance to work with peers outside of their classroom, helping them to develop the ability to work with others while also reviewing and practicing important skills.
Beyond academics, Ms. Brenner emphasizes living out Catholic virtues and values, as well as being kind and doing the right thing. Her class talks daily about the importance of kindness and forgiveness and regularly participates in kindness activities where the students compliment each other by writing one nice character trait or virtue that each student possesses. Ms. Brenner works to help students resolve conflict in a respectful way that aligns with Catholic virtues.
Furthermore, Ms. Brenner maintains open communication with parents, ensuring a strong home-school partnership. Through weekly newsletters and a photo-sharing platform called Class DoJo, she keeps families informed and engaged in their child's educational journey. She is also quick to communicate important information with parents via email and is always available for in-person meetings.
Ms. Brenner's dedication to her students and our school community exemplifies the spirit of St. Francis. As an alumna who once walked these halls, she brings a unique perspective and unwavering commitment to shaping the lives of our current students. Ms. Brenner notes, “Receiving an education here blessed and shaped my life in countless ways, from developing a firm faith foundation to creating lifelong friendships. Now that I’m a teacher here, I feel so lucky that I’m able to help current students grow academically and spiritually, as well as ensure that they have a wonderful elementary school experience.“ When asked what she enjoys most about being a part of the St. Francis School community, she indicated that she loves how caring and supportive students and staff are to each other. Whether it’s praying for someone in need or offering a helping hand, everyone strives to be a good person and friend.
We are profoundly grateful for Ms. Brenner's contributions to St. Francis School and the positive influence she has on our students' lives. Together, let us celebrate her passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication to fostering a love for learning in our students.