Travis Bruns
Position: ESE Support Specialist
School: Pine Grove Elementary School
School District: Hernando County School District
City, State: Brooksville, FL
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Travis Bruns was nominated by his principal, Nancy Johnson.
Mr. Bruns recently joined Pine Grove Elementary School this year, when the Emotional Behavioral Disorder units were transferred to the school. When these units were transferred to the school, Johnson was truly concerned as to how she would manage. She didn't have an ESE degree and wasn't trained to deal with the issues that these children face each day. Then, she met Mr. Bruns.
"The first time I watched him restrain a student who was having a severe meltdown, I was amazed at how calm he was and how he just kept telling the child everything was going to be alright and that he loved them." Johnson recalled. "After working closely with him for the last five months, I don’t believe I have ever seen someone so attached and dedicated to their students. These children come to us with severe behavioral problems. They can’t cope with many things, and can struggle with very low self-esteem and severe anger issues."
Some of the students Bruns works with have been with him for three or four years. He has developed a strong rapport with the children and their families. This year, his title is ESE Support Specialist. He is usually creating lessons, helping to teach, testing and monitoring behavior in both units. Along with this, he helps students across campus behave in a positive way.
As tough as his job is, Mr. Bruns maintains a friendly demeanor. For example, he brings in each child's favorite food. One student only likes fresh fruit so that’s what he gets. Others like certain cereals or crackers. This year, for the holidays, Mr. Bruns and his colleagues had a party with special treats for the students. They brought in gingerbread houses that the students decorated. It isn't unusual for Mr. Bruns to make a home visit, either.
"Some children don’t want to get on the bus to go home - they want to go home and live with Mr. Bruns," Johnson said. "It is not unusual for me to get texts at night with his concerns about one of the children or questions about what we could do differently to help them. Travis truly has been a LifeChanger to all of his children throughout the years."
Educators face tremendous challenges in the kinds of classrooms that Mr. Bruns faces every day. Knowing all of this, he remains a constant in these children's lives. He feeds them, buys them Christmas gifts, teaches them and cares for them.
"For these students that don’t fit into the general education classrooms, Travis is a LifeChanger. He is one of the few that will take on the challenge of helping those students that most others have given up on," Johnson said.
I commented once but really feel the need to add to my endorsement. Mr. Bruns is a Godsend. We have our share of behavioral problems this year. Some of the students are quite challenging. Almost without exception the students respond to his gentle, no nonsense approach. He instinctively knows when kindness and compassion are needed or he will use the "authoritarian " voice to get a student's attention. His respect and caring come through so that every student feels Mr. Bruns values him/her. They understand he will hear them out and talk to them about their choices, plainly telling them when they mess up and helping to understand there are better choices. I have never heard him talk down to a child or treat them disrespectfully. He is very much a role model to the students he interacts with, helping them to make changes to their lives, one choice at a time. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable resource to anyone who asks for his advice, willing to share his expertise.
He certainly deserves consideration for this award. Since coming to Pine Grove he has impacted the lives of students and adults, as well!
If there was a definition for “super hero,” Travis’ name would be there. In a most demanding job with an ever changing myriad of responsibilities, Travis swoops in with a collective strength resonating with calm and “I’ve got this” which mitigates the situation and resolves the issue. What’s super human about this is that this occurs literally every moment of his work day. The students Travis work with are the most physically, emotionally, and academically demanding on campus. There is never a moment where Travis is not assisting to their needs. Before the start of the official school day, during the day, and late after the close of the day, Travis is there for his students, parents, and school working to best meet the needs of his students, families, and school. If he could wear a cape, it would never cease flowing with the speed at which he is there to assist. What’s the most super-heroish quality about Travis? Travis does this all without recognition or applause or lunch or an ulterior motive. Travis does his job simply because he is a wonderful compassionate educator who sees the potential in even the weakest most vulnerable students and he strives continually through every challenge that can literally be thrown at him to bring out as much success as possible. To me, Travis is nothing less than a super hero for those around him. I’m not sure what his super power really is, yet deep down his students know— he is simply there for them and will help them in any manner, shape, or form.
Travis Bruns is a life changer. To his students he has changed their world, their lives, their chance to be whole and accepted and successful.
Liam was in your classroom for less than a month . I will always be thankful for each and every minute . You gave us hope .
I don’t think I have encountered a person quite like Mr Bruns. He is one of the most compassionate, understanding people I have ever met. He is always willing to help students and colleagues. He handles difficult situations with ease, and earned the respect of everyone he encounters. He was born to be an educator and I am blessed for having crossed his path. Few people can handle the stresses of his job and still maintain the professionalism he has shown. We are better school because we have him and I am a better teacher because I have met him. He truly is a life changer.
As a speech and language therapist, I get the opportunity to work with so many of the great teachers across the district. Travis Bruns is the true definition of "life changer" in how far he is willing to go for kids, not just the students in his class. I have personally seen Travis take the time to give a kid whatever they needed from him, whether it was a break, a walk with him around campus, or to not even be with him at all. Travis has a genuine gift of being in tune with the needs of his students and is that support system for them, no matter how much extra work it may be. He is able to provide the authoritative figure they may need in their life, the love they may be seeking in the wrong ways, or even just a friend. He pushes his students to live past their labels and strives for them to succeed and prove people wrong. To see him come back every single day and put in 150% effort for every student is inspiring. Congratulations Travis, you deserve such a great honor!
Travis works hard each and every day to make a difference with his students. He does a job that many cant or wont do. His compassion and never give up attitude is why his students persevere.
Travis Bruns is one of the greatest and best influence in my life. Always helped me and push me to be a better person in life. There isnt anyone I look up to more! These children he teaches will always remember Mr Bruns.
Although I have never seen Travis in the classroom I have heard how wonderful he is with the children! Knowing him personally seeing how he treats people and helping friends and family out I am sure he impacts the students lives! He is truly a wonderful caring and we have been blessed to know him and couldn’t be happier to have him as a son-in-law!
There has never been a more compassionate and understanding teacher than Mr. Bruns. My son still speaks more highly of Mr. Bruns than any human being. His love for children is so easy to see. He still checks in on my other children as well. He is an amazing person and teacher. He has truly changed my son's life for the better. No one has ever gotten through to him except Mr. Bruns.
As a coworker, each day I have the good fortune of encountering Mr. Bruns in action. He brings hope to even the most hopeless situations.
He speaks to students with a tone of assurance. As he fulfills each child's need to be heard, understood, and forgiven, he reveals glimpses of the goodness in even the most disruptive student.
He shares encouragement and knowledge to his coworkers through his actions of peacemaking. When Mr. Bruns enters a classroom in chaos he always brings hope; that's a lifechanger.
Yes, I am his sister and probably bias, but it doesn't change the fact that he goes out of his way for many people especially his students. He volunteers time, money and his many talents and skills for the better of students, coworkers and community. He takes the most challenging situations and makes them better.
Travis has been a life changer his entire life. As a small child he adopted all of our elderly neighbors , whether to help with yard work or just to visit; he "checked" on them often. As a youth he volunteered at Citrus County Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. dba Key Training Center. He impacted so many adults with developmental disabilities, simply by living that organization's greed; kindness, love, dignity, and respect. I still see him living by that creed today in everything that does As a young man finishing his college degree Travis worked at the "Key". Consumers here still remember him and can't wait for his next visit, I know because I work there. Yes, I might be biased, I am his mother, but I see daily, the impact he has made and continues to make
Mr. Bruns is an amazing teacher and mentor. He was my teacher In Highschool and he was one of my favorites because hoe much he cared and helped me. Last year he helped me get a job to work with him and it was an amazing experience. I always tried to model what he did and it was very difficult. He always kept his composer and was super friendly even when the kids where violent towards him and others. Mr. Bring deserves this reward because of his excellent work with these kids. He has changed many lives including mine. Thanks Mr. Bruns.
I worked with Travis at Mountain Elementary he was awesome with the kids the kids looked up to him everything that the current principal said about him is absolutely true if anyone deserves this award it would be Travis.
Travis Bruns truly shows compassion to our most needy students. He is loved by our students because they know he loves and respects them. We are very fortunate to have staff like Travis to work with our students who have high needs
I met Travis when he first started working in Hernando County. He was so young, and couldn’t wait to start teaching children. When he started working with children with special needs he found his calling. The children were drawn to him because of the care, concern and love he has for them. Travis was called upon when students that weren’t even in his classroom needed assistance. Travis is not afraid of these students. Each one has something different to offer and each and every one of them is capable of learning, growing strong, and thriving. Travis sees the potential in every student and just wants to help them succeed in life. He truly is a Life Changer.
Great job going outside the book to help his students.
I have seen Travis do his job many times, the students definitely respond to him. He has been a great addition to Pine Grove and he has helped me out many times with a couple of my students. The students he works with present many challenges, this does stop him at all. He sees the positive in them and not the challenges, he allows them to make choices that will make them better. I am very glad to see that Nancy nominated him, it is well deserved.
Travis is a kind, and wonderful person. He has been given a gift of knowing how to reach these troubled children. It is an honor knowing him!
I have seen Mr Bruns with his students. He spends countless hours with them and he listens to them. All of the students that he works with never see any fustrations from him. He is one of the most calm and collected people. He shows the student that he is a carring person and will work with them until there is a resolution. He keeps his cool even when most people would have given up. He supports the students and feeds them frequently. He works tirerlessly to support his students and it shows.
I too worked with Travis at his previous school for years and his love and concern for his students was always refreshing to see! He is a man of great character who truly deserves to be honored even though he's too humble to see it himself.
I am one of the guidance counselors at Pine Grove and work with Mr. Bruns and the students in that unit frequently. He is a safe zone for them, and quite calming when need be. The unique thing about Mr. Bruns is, he doesn’t just work with a specific group of students. He helps out whenever he is asked, from grades k-5 ESE or Gen Ed. If we need help he’s a radio call away. He has taught me new ways and methods to work with certain students and their individual personalities, because he knows them so well. He takes the time to know each student. It’s been a pleasure to have him at Pine Grove.
I have worked for years with Travis and he truly is one of the few who are caring concerned and compassionate about his students these students cherish him to no end he remains calm when others cannot I am so proud that he has been chosen as this is very true he is a life changer Congratulations Travis
Mr. Bruns is an amazing educator and a great asset to hernando county schools. He ahould be the director of ESE in district office.
Travis was my grandsons teacher for less than a month . He built tremendous rapport with my grandson and myself very quickly . Being able to give him my wholehearted trust and cooperation was a relief and a long awaited goal finally reached . Our brief Home-School interaction produced good results for our first grader . Congratulations on this honorable recognition . God bless you .
Travis Bruns definitely deserves this award! His job is incredibly demanding on a daily basis! No matter how demanding his job can be he does not let that stop him from doing an absolutely amazing job. He is someone that his coworkers and students can always count on!!
Mr. Bruns used to be at the school my son goes to and he was a very good person for my son to talk to he deserves this award and much much more my son misses him dearly
I know Travis Bruns not as a teacher but as a member of my family. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He had a heart of gold and would do anything to help anyone.
Travis is an amazing teacher and role model. Travis has a unique bond with each student he works with and is able to bond with even the toughest students. He arrives early everyday with his own children in tow and works late most days.
Fresh out of college he started working as a high school intensive reading teacher and coaching JV boys basketball along with assisting with varsity basketball. He worked hard helping students with their reading and then working after school with the boys on the basketball team. He had an amazing impact on the boys on the basketball team and to this day even though they are all adults now. When he runs into them they tell him what an impact he had on their lives. When he left the high school to go teach EBD at the elementary level he filled a spot that hadn’t been filled in over a year. He went in and with the help of an amazing para was able to turn things around in the classroom. Last year when his 5th graders were leaving elementary school for the last time they cried because they were sad to leave him. I could write so much more about him and the impact he has had on all the students lives he touches. He inspires both my children and me on daily basis both at work and at home.
I have known Travis for about a year now and worked closely with him this past summer at our Extended School Year Program, due to a student he has worked with moving into middle school and having to transition. I hold the same position in our cluster site middle school that Travis holds at the elementary school. I have seen him first hand use his calm demeanor, a soothing tone in his voice and always doing everything he could for the students. We share a lot of the same duties, personality traits and job description. Without a doubt, Travis deserves this award. It takes special people to become teachers, but stepping into the world of special needs can be even more challenging. At the end of the day he reaps the reward by changing these students lives. I am proud of the special education teacher he is and even more proud to call him a friend and team mate.
Travis is amazing!! I have watched him with kids highly upset and he just has a way about him that the kids respond to. He is always willing to help with whatever is needed. He works well with everyone and takes the time to know his students. He has a group of very challenging students. You can see how much he cares for each of them. He goes above and beyond to teach them daily behaviors. He talks to the parents with compassion, but truths they need to hear. We here at Pine Grove were blessed with his transfer to us this year!!
Travis Bruns deserves this award. Mrs. Johnson pretty much said everything. I'm one of the "other" classrooms he supports and I would be having a very difficult time if I didn't have his help and expertise. He is wonderfully patient and caring with the students and if you've ever had to deal with a student in full tantrum mode you'll know how difficult it is to maintain your patience, but he does. All the time! He and his wife, Jessica, our behavior specialist, have been a very welcome addition to the Pine Grove Community!!!
