From interior designer to classroom teacher, Ms. Ruth Brewer, a Fort Smith native, brings 16 years teaching experience to Kimmons.

Ms. Brewer earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. While working in the furniture industry for years, Ms. Brewer decided she wanted a career change.

“I started thinking back to teachers who influenced me like Mrs. Biknel, my 8th grade Language Arts teacher,” Ms. Brewer said. “She had us analyzing popular songs to find the author’s deeper meaning. The other one would be my 10th grade Geometry teacher because she really loved teaching, and it came out in class every day.”

From the University of Arkansas, Ms. Brewer earned a Master’s in Gifted and Talented, which she taught for two years at Morrison, Ballman, Woods, and Cavanaugh Elementary Schools. Before that, she taught all subjects at Bonneville Elementary and 5th and 6th grade Math and Science at Central Middle School.

Ms. Brewer likes that middle school students are more independent than elementary school children and are good at problem solving.

“I like watching students who would normally not hang out together become friends in GATE and find a connection,” Ms. Brewer said. “My goal is for them to enjoy their challenges.”

How much needs to be managed presents the biggest challenge as a GATE teacher.

“It’s hard keeping several different projects going at one time, where each team is in the project, keeping supplies together, and guiding them rather than just telling my students the answers,” Ms. Brewer said.

In addition to teaching GATE, Ms. Brewer enjoys sponsoring the Quiz Bowl team – an after-school club where students compete with other schools in answering random questions about core subjects, sports, and even Disney and mythology.

“Quiz Bowl has been a huge learning curve with the organization requirements, a new school’s procedures, and getting the team together, but it has been so much fun,” Ms. Brewer said.

Outside of school, Ms. Brewer loves watching Razorback football and baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox.

“I love to go ziplining, hiking, canoeing and have been skydiving twice,” Ms. Brewer said. “I also enjoy reading and spending time with my granddaughters Emery (7) and Anna (4).”