Join us as we congratulate Brenna Penry on her retirement! Brenna was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, by deaf parents. Her father worked as a blue-collar worker in the factories of Caterpillar Tractor Company (CAT), and her mother worked as a seamstress in the Peoria Production Shop which supplied items for CAT. She states that both of her parents were humble and proud. They never let their disability get in the way of success and happiness. They were great examples, teaching her and her two older sisters to pursue and achieve their goals with integrity, honesty, and a hard work ethic. With this attitude, in 1977, Brenna packed her suitcase and her new electric typewriter and flew 1,398 miles across the United States. She landed in Rexburg, Idaho, chasing her dream of being an early childhood educator at Ricks College, which is presently known as Brigham Young University Idaho (BYUI). After receiving her Associate in Arts and Science in 1979, she attended a semester abroad at BYU Hawaii where she enjoyed studying on the warm beaches of Liea and ungracefully took hula dance as a P.E. credit. Then, she attended BYU, earning her Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education in 1981.
She has successfully achieved her dream of teaching as an Early Childhood educator for the past 35 years. Her career began in the Provo School District where she was a first grade teacher for two years and then continued in the Granite School District where she taught half-day kindergarten for three years and first grade for one year. For the last 29 years, she has enjoyed being a kindergarten teacher at Wellington Elementary in the Carbon School District. She has taught in the same grade and in the same classroom, branding her class as the “Penry Pirates”. For the last several years, she has had the privilege of teaching the children of her first Wellington students who often reminisce about learning sign language, performing in programs, and enjoying holiday traditions, such as making a Christmas candy train.
Over the last 29 years, many changes have taken place as she has worked in CSD. The screeching sounds of chalk on black boards have been swapped with brightly-colored markers on white boards. Typewriters and Ditto machines, along with the consequential purple smudges on her face, have been replaced with high tech computers. Long gone are overhead and slide projectors. In are SMART boards and tablets where animated stories are often shared. Many reading, math, and writing programs have come and gone. Phonics was taught and then it wasn’t. Whole language was the thing and then it wasn’t. Suddenly, phonics was back. She has worked under eight principals and six superintendents, and has taught 650 five year olds! Over all these changes and years, one thing has remained. she has loved
her career in the Carbon School District as an early childhood educator. She has cherished her days, months, and years with each student. She has enjoyed her associations with the patrons, faculty, and staff of Wellington Elementary. As taught by her parents, she pursued and achieved her dreams and goals. Brenna states that she feels successful and happy, and she has worked honestly and hard. She feel that it has truly been a wonderful career.
Carbon School District wants to thank Brenna for her dedication to the students of the District and wish her all the best in this new chapter in her life.