Bonnie Brainard is a devoted woman of the Catholic church and is the current principal of our school. This is her first year at our school so I decided to interview her to inform people about her.
Her Job Experience
I asked her why she became a principal at St.Patrick for the year and she said that she was recommended by Deacon Brooks, our former principal and was actually requested by Father Doke, our pastor.
When I asked her what’s been fun about the job so far, she said seeing the kids of all her former students from when she was a teacher and administrator at Rolla High School. I asked what were her previous experiences as a teacher or principal. She said that she taught Spanish and was the assistant principal Rolla High, and she was a vice principal at Waynesville High School. Waynesville had a lot of military students and she found it interesting to adapt to the military life of students coming and leaving quite fast.
Family
She has one son, Coleman, who lives around Chicago and works as a district manager Ferrell Gas while also coaching wrestling. He is former college wrestler at SIUE (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville). He attended St. Patrick as a kindergartener all the way through his eighth grade year.
Favorite Things
I asked her what her favorite holiday was to spend with family and she said Thanksgiving because she has a full house of close to 30 family members. Even though pretty different from Thanksgiving, when I asked her what her favorite food was she said Italian food, especially a good Italian style pizza. For desserts she loves anything chocolate.
Free Time
Before becoming principal at St. Patrick, she traveled a lot visiting family and other places like Branson, Michigan, Florida, and Mackinac Island.
Now working here she doesn’t have too much time because she’s normally in meetings to help the school, but when she does have free time she likes to walk her two dogs, and tries to be as active as possible.
Writer’s Thoughts
As a student of this school, I believe that even though she has only been here for a few months and will only be here for this school year, she has already made a huge impact on our school, improving the spirit of the school and working hard in the background to advance the school to new and higher places.
(Photos by Elora .L)
