Get to Know 1st Grade Teacher, Mrs. Bray!

Mrs. Bray is a beloved teacher here at SCS. She’s our fun-loving, Minnie-Mouse-ear-wearing, Outdoor-Learning-Center-Adventuring first grade teacher! We asked her some questions to get to know her better. Keep reading to learn more about her teaching experience, her family, and a few of her favorite things!

Tell us about your past teaching experience.
I started my career teaching in Chicago, where I taught 2nd grade for a year. Then I moved back to NJ and taught 4th grade for 3 years in Vernon before taking 10 years off to be a stay at home mom. I went back part time as a basic skills teacher in Wantage. This is now my 11th year teaching 1st grade at Sussex Christian. Teaching in Chicago taught me resilience and how to teach with little support; teaching in Vernon taught me how to lean on other teachers in a very supportive environment; teaching basic skills taught me so much about students in need and teaching here at SCS, I’ve used all those skills and learned more about teaching the whole child including their heart and mind and faith.

What brought you to SCS?
Linda Carbone, our former 2nd grade teacher, sat next to me at a Veritas play and we started chatting and she told me SCS needed teachers! I was thrilled because I had always wanted to teach here!

What is your favorite thing about teaching 1st grade?
In addition to loving this age and how pure their faith is, I love watching children develop a love for reading and getting excited about reading!

Why are you passionate about Christian education?
I am passionate about Christian education because teaching a child about Jesus is essential to a strong foundation in their lives. It’s hard to teach a child anything else when they don’t feel loved by their Creator. I’ve learned so much from them about faith and love for Jesus over the years! Disciplining a child in a biblical way is also the only true way to help them understand what’s expected of them.

Tell us about your testimony.
My husband and I were in the hospital, I had just had my second child, and the pastor from Green Pond walked in and asked if he could say hi and pray for Ryan. We talked for a little while and he left. We started going to that church and later he said he had gotten a call that a woman was in the hospital and he needed to go. We still have no idea who called him. We found the Lord there and he has been at the center of our lives ever since. My son is now 20. Jesus is at the center of my life and guides my decisions in and out of school.

Tell us about your family.
I’ve been married to Marc for 29 years. We have 2 children. Emily is 23, lives in Maryland and is engaged to be married in June. She’s in grad school and just got her first teaching job. Ryan is 20 and is working for Disney through the Disney College Program, but is going to continue there part time and transfer to UCF for animation. He wants to work for Disney.

Tell us about some of your hobbies. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Are there any activities or hobbies that your family enjoys doing together?
Our family enjoys Disney. We go often and have been going for 20 years at least once a year. We are all children at heart and enjoy being together. I love dressing up and having fun in and out of my classroom. I like to read and crochet. I collect Minnie ears and Loungeflys and enjoy finding ways to use them and display them. I love to travel and wish I could more often!

Share a fun fact about yourself.
I’ve run 2 half marathons, the first one at Disney. We’ve been to half the world’s Disney parks and always find ways to add Disney to any vacation. We’ve been to Florida, California and France Disney parks.

Favorite color?
Purple

Favorite snack?
Cheddar Chex mix

Favorite season?
Summer

Favorite book?
Nicholas Sparks Three Weeks with my Brother

Favorite movie?
Star Wars, Lion King

Favorite ice cream flavor?
Moose tracks

Favorite vacation spot?
Disney

Share anything else you’d like us to know or any additional facts you think the community might find interesting!
I will find any excuse to be silly, dress up, or have A theme day in my classroom and I think it helps my students learn!