Spotlight of the Month on Support Staff

Spotlight Support Staff: Tracie Branchaud, Early Childhood/School Readiness Paraprofessional at Clearbrook-Gonvick Schools

 

“Children are apt to grow up to what you believe of them.”~ Lady Bird Johnson

 

Tracie Branchaud is a paraprofessional in the ECFE/School Readiness classroom.  She has been in this position for the last three and a half years.  She is married to Brian, and together they have two children: Breana and Brandon

Tracie grew up in Fosston and graduated from Fosston High School in 1998. She then attended Northwest Technical College in Bemidji for Child Care Education.

 

Why did you choose to be a para in Early Childhood? I volunteered in the School-Readiness classroom when my son Brandon was in it. I really enjoyed it and was hired to work here when Brandon entered Kindergarten.

 

What did you do before coming to Clearbrook-Gonvick? Stay-at-home mom.

 

What is the best part of your job at Clearbrook-Gonvick? The smiles and hugs from all the children and working alongside my other early childhood coworkers - we make a great team!

 

What is the biggest challenge of your job? Having enough time to give each child the attention they need.

 

If you could have any job in the world - what would it be? Why? The job I have now. I love working with children. I also like having the same schedule as my own children. 

 

What do you do when you are not at school teaching? I love to spend time with my family, I love outdoors and nature, gardening, my chickens, and my little dog, “Maggie”.

 

What are your favorite aspects of the Clearbrook-Gonvick community? The Clearbrook-Gonvick community is a friendly and caring community. Everyone looks out for each other like family. I feel blessed to be a part of a wonderful community. 

 

And a now a word (or two) about Miss Tracie  from some of her students…

 

What do you think Miss Tracie does when she is not here at school? “Someone comes over” “I don’t know” “Plays Checkers” “Drinks coffee and watches mommy TV” “Stays home” “Plays video games”

 

What is the best thing about Miss Tracie? “She’s nice” “She helps people” “She cleans up” “She’s my teacher”

 

What do you think is Miss Tracie’s favorite thing to do? “Play” “Teach kids” “Drink coffee” “Decorate trees” “Be at school”

 

What do you think Miss Tracie will do over the holiday break? “Put up her Christmas tree.” “Take a picture with Santa.” “Sleep” “Play in the snow.”

 

What is one thing Miss Tracie ALWAYS says? “Boys...” “On the carpet” “How nice” “Come to the carpet”