The teachers here at our school play a vital role in students’ education, but also in their experiences. As teachers and staff spend more time here, they grow and adapt to the school system, their students, as well as the concepts they teach throughout the years. These are a few reasons why, when a member of the staff at our school leaves, a majority of the students feel upset. One teacher, Chesa Brawner, is leaving our school after this year wraps up.

Brawner has worked at our school since 2014. She started as a substitute teacher before transitioning to physics. When she first began her full-time position, she was both a physics and engineering teacher, but later transitioned to only physics after she took a break in 2018 when her son was born.

She has decided to leave our school after this school year due to long travel times and a difficult commute with having a son in DC.

“DC opened up a new public school a couple of years ago. It’s the one my son will go to, and they were hiring for a physics position,” Brawner said.

She explains how it is beneficial since it is very close to her, and her son will eventually go there. It is currently called MacArthur High School, but it is being renamed to John Thompson High School.

Despite leaving, she has thoroughly enjoyed her time at our school and is sad about her leave. She’s worked here for 8 years and has made many friends and built many relationships with the students and staff here.

“[The other physics teachers] have made me an infinitely better teacher because I have gotten to work with them,” Brawner said.

She explains how she’s going to miss all the memories she has made. The ones with staff, other physics teachers, and all of her students.

Even though she is leaving, she still made a huge impact on many of her students and peers. She was a dedicated and hardworking teacher who will continue to put the same effort at her new school as she continues as a physics teacher there.