By Amanda Compton Photo Credit: Rebecca Fox Miss Kendall Brewer first joined Twin Oaks Christian School as a Kindergarten student. Little did she know that 20 years later, the Lord would call her back to Twin Oaks as an elementary classroom teacher and then again as Head of School. Brewer launched her professional career with Twin Oaks in 2016 as the third grade teacher. The following school year, she moved up to fourth grade and was promoted to Team Lead for the intermediate grade levels. In the summer 2018, Brewer left St. Louis for Harvard University in Boston to enroll in the Mind, Brain, and Education program, a field that focuses on helping educators integrate the research on neural plasticity, childhood development and learning science into their practice. She was one of 32 people nationwide to join the cohort for this relatively new strand of the graduate school. While she initially envisioned herself conducting research to empower teachers to meet challenges in the classroom, particularly those working with students with backgrounds of toxic stress, Brewer quickly sensed a disconnect between life of a researcher in a lab and that of an educator. Wanting to make a direct impact in the K-12 context, Brewer switched her focus to education leadership during her second semester at Harvard. This decision proved providential – as within a few months of changing her focus, the Head of School opportunity at Twin Oaks presented itself. After much prayer and consideration, Brewer, who was awarded her Master in Education this spring, believes God called her back to Twin Oaks to apply what she learned over this past year. Brewer’s vision for Twin Oaks is to be known as an excellent provider of Christian education that equips students with the tools needed for good works which God has planned for them in advance (Ephesians 2:10). That said, she wants to capture the inspired, creative work that the teachers at Twin Oaks already do in the classrooms while simultaneously integrating tools and resources to further teach for translatable, real-world skills such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking. Her favorite thing about Twin Oaks Christian School is the “sweetness in the community,” particularly in how the families surround each other with support and love during both joyful and difficult seasons. She also values that Twin Oaks is a place that recognizes students as spiritual, emotional and cognitive beings known and loved by their Heavenly Father, thus providing a safe environment for children to grow and blossom into image-bearers of Christ. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Education from St. Louis University in 2013. she took a job with a massive school district in Tulsa, Okla., with 16 teachers per grade level serving a diverse population of students. She said this experience not only taught her how to work through barriers to family-school partnerships, but also how to create classroom community in the midst of varied student backgrounds. Brewer then went to work for the Wentzville School District where she taught fifth grade for two years. During this time, her school piloted a standards-based report card and worked to develop their reading and writing curriculum -- an experience that ignited her passion for curriculum and instruction. Brewer is a member of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church. Outside of work, she enjoys rock climbing and hiking as well as exploring St. Louis City with family and friends. Her favorite scripture is Ephesians 1:18-19, where the apostle Paul prays, “that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” “This verse I pray for myself often because it captures the incredible gift of Christ dwelling within us,” said Brewer. You may reach Miss Brewer at kbrewer@twinoaksschool.org or call Twin Oaks Christian School at 636-861-1901. Twin Oaks Christian School, a ministry of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church
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AuthorTwin Oaks Christian School Archives
January 2021
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