Position: ESE Coordinator
School: Pine Grove Elementary School
School District: Hernando County School District
City, State: Brooksville, FL
Travis Bruns was nominated by Kelly York, the parent of a student.
Mr. Bruns goes above and beyond any requirements of the average teacher. He is on a professional and friendly level with every student's family. He is a positive role model for the most difficult students and somehow finds a way to have a great personal relationship with each of his students. Mr. Bruns can turn the worst of situations into a de-escalated, positive situation, sometimes in the matter of minutes. He is someone who makes himself available for students and their families, both inside and outside of school.
Mr. Bruns makes sure students know they matter, whether it's through a hug, a safe space, or making himself available to listen. He has out-of-the-box ideas for each child to individually learn on their own terms and needs, which has been proven to work! He was recently named Hernando County Teacher of the Year, and it is so deserved. For someone to be so involved with some of the hardest students to handle, and never faltering, is amazing.
"The way he has made himself available, not only to my son, but the EBD students as a whole, is truly outstanding. He is a teacher, friend, confidant and role model," said York. "There aren't many ways to show how thankful we are for what he does on a daily basis for these kids."