Alumni Spotlight: Shawna (O’Brien) Reed, Class of 2001 BY SUE READY
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s a parent and graduate of the Brainerd Schools (Class of 2001) Shawna (O’Brien) Reed’s strong commitment to her family, work and community is admirable.
From Shawna’s perspective as a parent, District 181 presence is felt within a strong close-knit community. “I feel fortunate that my kids are in a district that embraces tight social connections with good communication regarding school related activities, sports, community activities, events and other community opportunities. As a working full time parent there are many special people who have reached out and offered to help me with rides when needed, pick up, etc. All the teachers my kids have had in the Baxter Schools have been wonderful,” she said. Shawna has seen opportunities evolve for children’s education over the last 30 years. “Children are reading at a younger age and the math curriculum is more advanced in the earlier grades. Technology advances in the schools have brought about significant changes. Apps such
as ClassDojo, Remind and email have improved communication from school to home in effect making teachers very accessible to the parents.” Looking back Shawna reflects on the wonderful experiences she had at BHS. She was very social and was voted most outgoing in her senior year. “I think these attributes helped me be more personable and caring, transferring over to my family and job. I was involved in a lot of art classes and triathlon in my senior year. Ms. Wise was one of my favorite caring teachers. She taught me perseverance goes a long way in my triathlon classes. Bob Johnson, who passed away several years ago, was my art teacher who really brought the creative side out of his students. I learned the value of punctuality from my varsity dance coach in grades 10-12, Cindy Clough. Her motto was “‘early is on time and on time was late.’”
BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 16 | FALL ‘21
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