Ellen Brusick

Ellen Brusick

Education

Associate

Concordia Junior College

Bachelor's

Concordia Teachers College

Graduate

Concordia Teachers College

Ph.D

University of Alabama

Personal

Religion

Christian: Lutheran

Profession

Educator

Contact

Personal website

Ellen Brusick was a candidate for the District 3 seat on the Huntsville City Board of Education in Alabama. She was defeated in the general election on August 26, 2014.

Biography

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Brusick earned an associate degree at Concordia Junior College, bachelor's and master's degrees from Concordia Teachers College and an educational administration doctorate degree from the University of Alabama. She has held several roles in education, including teacher, principal and adjunct professor, at varying schools and levels. Brusick is vice president of Chaffee Neighborhood Civic Association, a duMidi Womens Club volunteer and a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. She also teaches Bible classes and is a CNCA Newsletter editor.

Elections

2014

See also: Huntsville City Schools elections (2014)

In the August 26, 2014 general election, Beth Wilder defeated Richard V. Buchanan for the District 2 seat and Walker McGinis defeated Kimberly Battle for the District 4 seat. Elisa Ferrell and Anson Knowles competed in a runoff election on October 7, 2014 for the District 3 seat. They defeated challengers Ellen Brusick, Kathie Rooker and Pat Sanders.

Results

Huntsville City Schools, District 3 General Election, 4-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Elisa Ferrell	30.3%	1,465
	Nonpartisan	Anson Knowles	24.5%	1,182
	Nonpartisan	Ellen Brusick	18.5%	895
	Nonpartisan	Kathie Rooker	17%	819
	Nonpartisan	Pat Sanders	9.7%	469
Total Votes				4,830
Source: AL.com, "Ferrell, Knowles headed for runoff in District 3 board race; Wilder, McGinnis clinch victory in Districts 2, 4," August 9, 2014 These election results are unofficial. They will be updated once certified election results are available.

Funding

Brusick did not file a campaign finance report with the Alabama Secretary of State.

Endorsements

Brusick did not receive any official endorsements in this election.

Campaign themes

Brusick's campaign website listed the following as her campaign themes for 2014:

“	I agree with former Governor Riley’s statement: “Common Core was initiated by the state governments seeking to avoid federal intrusion, and solve a problem for educators, businesses and citizens. That problem was that schools throughout the country did not all teach the same things at the same time, making it difficult for students and families who move from one place to another. "Much of the resistance to the (Common Core) program stems from a single misperception, which is itself rooted in a deep distrust of the president. But President Obama isn't driving the standards, nor did he create them," Riley writes. "The states are propelling Common Core." Two years ago, Alabama gathered some educators and members of the State Dept. of Education to develop the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards; they combined the existing Alabama Course(s) of Study with the common core standards. (I know at least one of the teachers who was on that committee.) Today, the ACCRS is guiding education in Alabama. I believe these standards are just right for use in Alabama. Too much testing (to determine if Standards are working)? Maybe not enough memorization in math? Maybe do we need to keep evaluating the ACCRS like any new program? Absolutely Do we all need to keep our eyes on what’s being taught in our children’s classrooms? Of course. If you ask me, I say, Use the ACCRS., It’s what we have now, and we should spend our energy making sure they’re worthwhile, and working, rather than fighting against them, spending time and energy and focus on repealing them. Again: from Bob Riley: Alabama has signaled to the rest of the country that it will educate its children and future business leaders on the same level as any other state in the country, if not a higher level. Businesses considering Alabama as a potential home will see the state’s use of Common Core as an assurance that the children of their employees and executives will receive a high-quality education. Huntsville City Schools Ah, you mean my life? Well, I love the HCS, and built my adult life around the HCS calendar! I always concentrated on my immediate job, teaching or running a school, and tried to provide the best teaching, and teachers for the schools I served. And somewhere in the middle, between the urgent and necessary moves that the Supt and School Board must make, there needs to be some communication, some coordination, some counseling and support/help for the teachers. If you ask me, that’s missing right now. I have always prided myself on enabling teachers to TEACH (provide materials give permission and support, feedback, audience, praise for good ideas. And, here’s something I just learned as fact from the Huntsville Times, Sunday March23: One of the best ways of segregating schools is to withhold the veteran experienced teachers from the hardest-to-teach schools. In all my days with HCS as a teacher and a principal, that WAS the norm. Young, novice teachers were mostly placed in “harder” schools. As soon as they earned tenure and a good reputation, they were rewarded by being hired by the “easy-to-teach- in” schools. (Guilty!) In a town as geographically racially divided as ours, the best thing we can do is put seasoned teachers, and excellent principals in ALL the schools, Good teachers tend to follow excellent principals One to One Initiative Come on, we don’t even have to discuss that any more. Sure it was quickly done (sort of matches Dr. W’s style) and thrown into the laps of the teachers (of course) to deal with it. IF YOU ASK ME about each child receiving a computer. . (A) it’s a fantastic undertaking with 21st century outlook. (b) It is true that more training was needed for teachers in the first year of the program and (c) it may have been better to start slowly, like with certain grades, but that’s in the rear-view mirror now. I like the chutzpah of the whole plan!! And, now, two years later, Huntsville City Schools is being touted as a wonderful trend-setter whom others come to visit. We’re Rocket City! Of course all our kids each have a computer! And then there’s this: IF YOU AK ME, I LOVE the partnership between the School System and Huntsville City leaders. I want to get on that bandwagon! Everyone knows that a city’s economic growth is supported by a strong school system – and we have that now. I love that that the mayor is visiting schools to “get an eye on the schools” I love that Huntsville is growing and modernizing, with more industries, growth, diversification, renovation, buildings, roads, restaurants, favorite specialty stores, etc. And I love that our school system is coming into the 21st century with a bang and supporting our great city. What exciting times!!That’s why I am so grateful for, and appreciative of, and impressed with what Dr. Wardynski has accomplished in his three years here; Turned around the finances Raised test scores Handled consolidation and closing of costly schools Overseeing the building of gorgeous, appropriate new facilities Offered programs and products never before seen by Huntsville and most school systems. AND, . . . Is attempting to get us out from under a 40-year-old Court ORDER to desegregate the schools. (I mean, how does that play in Peoria? “What? . . .You’re moving to Alabama? Don’t they still have segregation down there?” “No, actually, they’re under a forty year court order to desegregate!” “What is the matter with those people??!”) In 1992 Ann Roy Moore was Superintendent. When Bob Harrison asked that the Huntsville Board of Education take action to get out from the desegregation order and become a unitary school system, Dr. Moore said, “Attaining unitary status is a desirable goal, but far more complex, difficult and expensive than you seem to think.” (She didn’t know HOW hard and how much work it would be to get out from under the court order.) But now, after putting the HCS back on sure footing, academically, facility-wise and financially, Dr. W turns his eyes (and artillery) toward the Feds! Fearlessly he shows the DOJ that we have been making many excellent attempts to desegregate schools. Then, he redraws some questionable necessary zone lines, and submits the plan! Feds say No, not good enough. So, Game On!- here we go – and I’d love to be a part of this army. The Teacher IF YOU ASK ME: What is the most important thing that determines what kind of education YOUR child will get? The Teacher of course. I’ve always said your school is a s good as the teacher your kid has that year. Good teacher, you love the school. Good teacher? The kid learns to read, do math. Good teacher? He’s disciplined and helped to show proper behavior and work habits. So . . with all the things going on now in the news about the Larger Picture, . . . IF YOU ASK ME, I believe that that we have to keep very close eyes on the classroom and the teachers. Make sure our teachers are not frustrated or kept from creative, joyful teaching. It all depends on them. Make sure they’re not handed too much paper work, charts & tables to create. Make sure they’re not pitted against each other for the sake of scores, etc. Make sure they have a Good principal who can make life easier for the teachers. Neighborhood Schools Once we’re out of the 40 year old order, I would work very hard to make sure that all schools serve their neighborhoods. Provide a principal who is in touch with exactly what is needed by the clients in his/her school. ( KNOW your kids. KNOW the neighborhood. KNOW your families. KNOW their goals. . . and work to develop the exactly right program, events, opportunities that match their school.) All schools would, of course, use the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards, so the same curriculum is a given, but additional programs would be put in place, depending on needs at the school, enrichment and/or remedial. Povide each school an annual amount of discretionary funds to be used for specific needs at each school and watched over by principal and a committee of parents and approved by the School board.	”
—Ellen Bruscik's campaign website (2014)

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Ellen + Brusick + Huntsville + City + Schools"

Ellen Brusick News Feed

See also

• Huntsville City Schools, Alabama
• Huntsville City Schools elections (2014)

External links

Suggest a link

• Huntsville City Schools
• Campaign website