STUDENT SUCCESS
spotlight on our academic service directors Holistic, student-centered support for success in the classroom and beyond We were thrilled to welcome Kim Tolpa and Karen Bernanke to Brimmer this fall as our Lower School and Middle & Upper School Directors of Academic Services (respectively). They each bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their positions, and since September they’ve worked together as a highly efficient and effective team to create a tightly knit web of support for our students and families across all three divisions of the School. Because I have worked with students, families, and teachers from grades PK-8 and supported the transition to middle school from elementary, I was very excited to expand my work to support students in the upper grades. I was also excited about growing and adapting my skills to work within a larger school community.
What/Who has been helpful in your transition to your new role and new school community? KIM: The short answer is EVERYONE! No
What brought you to Brimmer? What were you doing prior to arriving, and what was most exciting to you about the role and the Brimmer community? KIM: I came to Brimmer by word of mouth.
One of my colleagues at the time was a former Brimmer Lower School teacher who spoke volumes about how great the school was. Once I had a chance to visit campus and meet the folks here, I knew that I wanted to be part of the “Brimmer family.” Prior to Brimmer, I worked at another local independent school for the last 12 years, first as a third grade teacher and more recently as a learning specialist. I also worked for a company as an executive function coach, supporting students of various ages with executive functioning vulnerabilities. I completed my Certified Level Orton-Gillingham training and practicum through the Academy of OrtonGillingham Practitioners and Educators, and my educational background includes a Master’s
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Spring 2021 Brimmer Magazine
in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Southern Methodist University and Ed.M in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. The most exciting part of my role is having a chance to work with a wide range of constituencies: teachers and administrators, parents, and especially students. I was really looking for a position where I’d be able to spend a big chunk of time working in classrooms and/ or individually with elementary-aged students.
KAREN: For the last six years, I was Director
of Support Services at the Jewish Community Day School where I oversaw a team of learning specialists and social workers to meet the needs of all students, grades K-5. At JCDS, my vision was to build a cohesive system within the school setting to support students with academic and social emotional resources throughout the day, to facilitate conversations, provide supports for families, and train teachers in adopting studentcentered teaching strategies.
matter my need or question, I’ve always found someone who is willing to jump right in with support or advice. Brimmer is truly a place that values teamwork, even if it must be via Zoom during a pandemic, and it’s a great feeling to know that there is always someone nearby to bounce around ideas. Because of my role, I work most directly with Karen, the Lower School Student Support Team, and the Lower School teachers.
KAREN: This transition has been exciting and novel due to an adjustment to a new school during the pandemic, but it has been smoother than I anticipated. I began getting to know some of my colleagues over the summer, and they made me feel a part of the community right away. Parents, students, and teachers have been so welcoming. It’s hard to believe that I have only been on campus since September. I enjoy getting to know my colleagues and peers. I spend a great deal of time with students in grades 6-12 and have the advantage of seeing many of them on a regular basis in person, which has been Above: Kim Tolpa works on extending literacy skills with rotating groups of Kindergarten students. At Right: Karen Bernake oversees a weekly Grade 6 study hall.
