Brenda Stewart
Position: District Nurse
School: Momence Community Unit School District #1
School District: Momence Community Unit School District #1
City, State: Momence, IL
Support Brenda
Leave a comment
Get Updates
Music that Describes Brenda
Brenda Stewart was nominated by her colleague, Lynette Thrasher.
"Mrs. Stewart is a gem to our school district and community," explains Thrasher. She is the only registered nurse in the unit district, serving over 1000 students in grades PreK-12. She moves throughout the three buildings in our district each day and has many responsibilities, including attending numerous 504 and IEP meetings. Additionally, in the last few years, on top of her already busy days, she has been instrumental is assisting our district in the preparedness and planning initiatives for the COVID-19 pandemic."
Mrs. Stewart has been an instrumental part of the pandemic committee and has cultivated a wonderful relationship with the Kankakee County Health Department to help the staff understand the ever-changing guidelines and protocols. She is constantly engaged in contact-tracing activities, overseeing the on-site testing programs, and organizing vaccination clinics. It's not unusual to see her car in the parking lot hours after her contract time has ended. If a staff member or student is ill or quarantined, she always finds the time to check on them and ensure they are okay.
If this weren't already more than enough to see that she is a LifeChanger in every sense of the word, she and her husband run a non-profit summer camp in Pembroke Township. This area has one of the highest concentration of free and reduced qualifying students in the district. Mrs. Stewart and her husband have been hosting students at their Run-A-Way Buckers day camp for around 20 years. Students spend several hours a day at the camp engaging in team-building activities, crafts, horseback riding, and gardening. Students learn about raising vegetables and the therapeutic benefits of time spent caring for animals. They practice yoga and mindfulness activities to learn how to better control their stress and emotions.
"I had the opportunity to visit the camp for one day last summer," said Thrasher. "As a district administrator who oversees interventions and programming to assist struggling tier 3 students, I was floored to see the way that students who struggle so much at school were thriving and serving as leaders in the camp. The way that Mrs. Stewart is able to develop confidence and leadership skills of students who spend so much of the time feeling like they don't belong or don't have much value within our structured school system is absolutely outstanding."
"Mrs. Stewart has a gift for making everyone she interacts with feel like they are here for a purpose. She sees the best in people and helps them to see it within themselves. Despite having the grueling responsibilities as the lead of a healthcare team during a pandemic, she finds time to give so much to her community and to the people in her life. She has a truly nurturing soul," said Thrasher.
What an honor to write about such a great person with such a great ministry! I really didn't know how to properly articulate with words my thoughts about Mrs. Stewart and how much of an inspiration she has been in my life. The definition of the word life changer truly embodies Mrs. Stewart.. Here's why, she surely has the strength to impact or change someone's life and has been doing so for years, whether in her immediate family, extended family, church family or community. She is blessed by God and a positive force influencing lives wherever she goes. The best part of it all is she really enjoys being a vessel of God while being careful to give Him all of the glory!
In our society, superheroes are meant to inspire us, however; in most cases they represent someone we are not or do things we can not do, which inevitably sends the unconscious message that we have already been defeated before the fight begins. In God, Mrs. Stewart has answered her call to action to rebuild, give hope, spread love, pour into others which tears down the lies of defeat and hopelessness which has pledged our families, children, and communities for years! This nomination is deserving and reflects the many rewards that she will receive in this world and after, I'm simply honored to have her as a part of my life and family! Congratulations!!! And well deserved!!!
Mrs. Stewart has done so many things for her family and community. She shows extreme integrity and selflessness daily. I'm proud to call her mom.
I remember as a young man, growing up on the west side of Chicago in the 60's, one of the most turbulent times in this country's history, the educators who inspired me. Their passion to serve in an underserved community, their commitment to educating with inferior materials and their courage to allow me to think outside the box and support my dreams that I could go further in life, despite the obstacles we as students in that community faced everyday, was truly an inspiration to me. Therefore, it is with great admiration that Brenda Stewart, my sister who shared the same environment, is nominated as a LifeChanger. Her desire to make a difference in the Momence, IL school district as the only registered nurse during another challenging time in this country, she and her spouse commitment to operate a summer camp for all youth in their community and her dedication to being a spiritual conduit for others who have lost hope is an example of a Life Changer. Mrs. Stewart doesn't just practice making a difference, she exemplifies it through her actions. I believe her faith in God gives her the strength and allows her to focus her efforts to help others. Thanks Sis for inspiring a new generation of youth who will one day achieve their dreams because of educators like you who care.
This lovely yong lady is my grandma and she goes by the name Brenda or Mrs.Stewart she has helped many people she always makes sure that her family is ok and she is a loving women i am blessed to be her grandchild so i think you guys should vote for her .
Brenda Stewart is a wonderful intelligent and very loving young person who cares for people in her community in many ways. She is a very giving person who gives of herself unselfishly. I'm her second oldest brother and my duty growing up was to raise her take care of her take her to and from school while my mom worked two jobs.I've always consider her to be my little girl although she is my sister and I love her to death. She is always been a motivated young lady who has no problem working towards what she would like to achieve. She has been giving back to her community for many many years now through her runaway bucklers program, which teaches the children in the community how to form the land, raise livestock, while connecting with them spiritually. Her nursing abilities allow her to be a blessing to the Kankakee School district well she takes pride and her duties and her abilities to provide the children with the necessary medical help needed. She is professional and all that she does and it's always looking to bless the less fortunate. The proof is in the pudding, all one has to do is look at how she has raised her children and her grandchildren who dedicate their lives to being helpful in the community as well. Vote for Brenda Stewart as life changer of the year because she has definitely changed some lives over the years.
Brenda Stewart is a caring and giving and loving young lady who cares about everyone and tries to help everyone in her community she has constantly put on programs for the kids in the community she makes an effort to bring them to her farm to show them and teach them how to raise livestock how to grow fruits and vegetables she also takes care for Mom and Dad and she's just an all-around loving person. I raised my sister early in life and she has grown to be the best sister anyone could have I love her, not only me but the community a whole at home loves her to death and there's nothing that they wouldn't do to help her because she is a constant help to the community both of my sister because she is a life changer and deserve to this award
Absolutely love and adore her..she has always been so ??, Grouned in faith Brenda is consistently generous, kind, has a heart that inspires you to love harder, to give more, to do more ?? She is definitely deserving of all of the positive recognition and accolades!! Congratulations!
Mrs. Stewart is a great women who helps many you people .
Very wonderful women thanks for always being there for us. So happy my daughter have someone special like you in her corner!
Mrs. Stewart is a great women and pillar in her community and district... She sets the bar.
Brenda is an extraordinary person. She Is a caring and supportive neighbor and friend. Her love for community and children is evidenced by her many years she has committed to serving in the Run-Away Buckers summer camp program alongside her husband, Reggie.Professionally, she has been there on more than one occasion when our family needed her. We will be ever grateful to her. She is more than worthy of highest recommendation and praise.
Brenda Stewart is a wonderful intelligent and very loving young lady who cares for people in her community in many ways. She is a very giving person who gives of herself unselfishly. I've known her all of her life and have known her to be a self-starter and a go getter. She is a very professional lady in her field and in her business she believes in helping young people to be the best that they can be. Last but not least she is a very spiritual young lady who believe in putting God first. In my opinion she is the best person and most qualified for this position either way she's a winner in my book.
I would like to thank Dr. Thrasher for nominating my wife, Brenda for the lifechanger of the year. We were blessed to become lifechanger leaders in the Pembroke and surrounding communities. Over the years we have touched many generations through our non-for-profit organization, Run-Away Buckers. Our children and grandchildren attended Momence School Disrtict #1, and now Brenda is the first school nurse at Momence District. Now she is touching many lives at the Momence School District #1
First I would like to thank Dr. Thrasher for seeing and voicing the God-given qualities that was placed in Brenda before she was born. It was God's plan and purpose for Brenda's life. Brenda being the last and only daughter among five sons is the promise child. In prayer and supplication God promised me a daughter and he kept his promise, Brenda was born, and she has been an amazing daughter. Five years old she stood before thousand of people at different church events reciting many Bible verses, exemplifying her God-given qualities and talents. Brenda has been amazing daughter from birth to adolescents and now adulthood. My daughter Brenda and her husband does a youth summer camp for the underserved youth in the Pembroke community and the kids love them.
Mrs. Stewart is wonderful to work with and is a great co-worker and friend. She is always there for the staff and students when they need her and works extremely hard to take care of everyone she encounters. We are blessed to have her on our team.
We appreciate you achieving so many milestones with us and growing our district to what it has become today! We know you have worked very hard and we truly admire your dedication. You have demonstrated compassion, empathy, outside-the-box thinking, resourcefulness and willingness to always help others. Thank you for all that you do, I am blessed to be on your team.
Mrs. Stewart is a strong God fearing women who has help guide so many young people. She is a true inspiration to all she comes in contact with.
Mrs. Stewart is an amazing school nurse, and even better human being. We would not have gotten through the pandemic with out her.
Great Job!
Brenda Stewart is a shining star in Pembroke.
