Dear scholars and families,
My name is Brenna Kyeong McHugh (she/her), and I am so excited to be working at The Journey School! I am a Special Education Teacher and have been teaching for thirteen years, and I am beginning my fourteenth year here at The Journey School. I obtained my age 3 to 6th grade general education teaching license from Saint Catherine University and my special education licensure at Augsburg College. I have taught special education for my entire career, having worked with elementary-aged students for nine years, and middle and high school-aged students for four years. At The Journey School, I will be working with scholars in grades 4th-8th.
I am a former foster care child and identify as a Korean and Black transracial adopted person who was raised by an Irish American family from the Deep South. I grew up in South Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading historical fiction and non-fiction, cooking, writing, and working on advocacy projects regarding human rights issues that transracial adoptees (adoptees of color) face, including citizenship for all adoptees and deportations of adoptees, mental health services and interventions, and sharing and elevating adoptees’ narratives.
I view being an educator as part of my identity, not just an occupation. When I was in the 5th grade, I wrote, “I want to be a teacher who helps intelligent kids who struggle like I do.” When I was in 6th grade, I was diagnosed with a learning disability called Dyslexia. Being in a traditional school setting was very difficult, and an often painful experience for me, compounded with teachers who lacked compassion and little racial mirroring and representation within the school environment. I use the hardships I have experienced as a scholar with a learning disability and person of culture/color as the fuel that I use to be a lifelong learner and to be a fierce advocate and compassionate educator who works with brilliant scholars who deserve and need some extra support.
I also strive to be a partner and collaborative team member with my fellow colleagues and families/guardians that I work with to ensure that our scholars are able to better meet their potentials and have a safe, supportive, responsive, and compassionate learning environment and support system. I look forward to working and learning with each of you!
Sincerely, Brenna Kyeong McHugh