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Lunch With Ernest

If only all kids could bask in her loving care

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published April 28, 2006

When they have drama productions at Lithia Springs Elementary, it's not uncommon to see a short, brown-haired woman rooting on the participants with a handmade poster that says, "You Rock!"

The woman is Brenna Harris, a 21-year-old child care provider from the nearby Kids R Kids Learning Center. Harris takes a personal interest in the kids she watches in the center's afterschool program. Her big-hearted approach makes children beam and puts parents at ease.

Harris' enthusiasm and compassion earned her the 2006 Most Valuable Employee Award from the Brandon '86 Rotary Club. It also earned her a spot in my lunch column, even though she was too busy balancing work and studies - she's a student at the University of South Florida - to sit down and eat.

So, over toys and games at Kids R Kids, we talked about her love of children, her dreams of being a teacher, and the lessons she learned from parents Butch and Sheila Harris.

Pull up a chair and join us.

ERNEST: What was your reaction to winning the award?

BRENNA: I was very shocked. To find out one of the parents had actually nominated me, that was also very special.

Where does your love of kids come from?

Kids say some of the greatest things. Teachers play a small part, but if you put all the small parts together, it makes up a big part of that child's world. You can be the one person in a child's life that makes a difference to them. That's why I always try to hug as many as I can, and hug all 80 of them all day. Where does it come from? My father and mother. I have wonderful, wonderful parents.

How do you balance the demands of work and school? It has to be tough when you start here at 6 a.m., leave for school at 8 a.m. and then return at 2 p.m.

You have to always set up a reward for yourself. The motivation of one day teaching in the public schools keeps me going. Everybody knows I've wanted to be in public school. Knowing that someday that's where I'm going to be, that's what motivates me. And like I said, the kids. I could never sit behind a desk. After sitting in class, I love coming and being able to run around with the kids and play with them and do art with them.

Sounds like you have a lot of energy.

I'm very high-strung, but I mean, what's not to love about life, really? I have my health, I have my family, I have a good job, I have good friends. What can I not be happy about?

Cami Gilbertini, who nominated you, said you're very good at reasoning with the kids, even through tears. How do you do that?

You've got to make yourself approachable. You have to let that child know they are okay with you. Don't ever make a child feel they cannot come to you, that if they come to you, you're going to snap at them. Everybody has their moments, but that child needs to know they can come to you. Try putting yourself in their shoes. First thing I like to start off with is a hug. That will catch a lot of children off guard if they're having a temper tantrum or they're crying and you go up and ask if they need a hug. Sometimes just smiling at them. Smiling is definitely a contagious thing. I heard a quote: A child may forget what you say, but they will never forget the way you make them feel.

There is a lot of scrutiny of teachers today, and it's not a high-paying job. How will you deal with those challenges?

I think one of the main rewards of teaching -- it may not happen right away - but years down the road you might have that child come to you and say, "You know what, you made a difference in my life. You were that one person who would show me the attention and affection that I needed.'' No, you're not going to be rich with material things, but you'll be rich in life. One of the things I'm going to do when I first start teaching is keep a journal, because when that day comes that I say I just can't go on, I'm going to be able to look back in that journal and see one of those notes that I caught one of the kids passing and be able to laugh.

Are there teachers who made a difference with you?

I think the two best teachers in my life were my parents. They are just two of the most incredible people I've ever met. They've taught me you don't know what's going on in somebody else's life, you don't know why they're acting the way they are, so you need to always put yourself in other people's shoes. I also would say my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Judy Golden, at Alafia Elementary. She was always available to us.

How has Kids R Kids helped you with your dreams?

Kids R Kids has really opened a lot of doors of opportunity for me. Every day, every minute that I'm here, it's a learning process, a learning experience. I think I would have always gone back to education, but this has really made me see that kids and education is where I need to be.

DESSERT: A postscript from Ernest

Although she was a member of the early childhood program at Durant High, Brenna actually had planned to major in nursing after graduating from Hillsborough Community College. Her love of kids, however, now has her focusing on elementary education. When she's not concentrating on work and school, Brenna loves to play with her Yorkshire terrier, Belle, and spend time with her fiance, Michael Jones. The two belong to St. Stephen Catholic Church. Sundays in the fall, however, are reserved for the Steelers. Her parents were raised in Pittsburgh. Even though she grew up in Brandon, Brenna says she bleeds black and gold.

Ernest Hooper also writes a column for the Tampa & State section of the Times. He can be reached at 226-3406 or hooper@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 13:43:57]