A new special education teacher joining the district this year is Brandy Hodges. She has been teaching since 2014 and since Covid-19 she decided to go back to school to pursue her special education license.

The biggest differences that she has seen from her transition to Greendale than the previous schools is the size of the building and students. “I come from a k4-8th that only had 500 scholars. Another difference is the size of the special education department; the amount of support we offer our students and families is phenomenal,” she said. “The most enjoyable parts of teaching are imparting knowledge, trust, skills, love, and confidence into the minds of children.”

Hodges moved to Milwaukee with her oldest two children in 1988. “I recognized that my daughter was struggling in reading and writing. I had the school test her to see if she would qualify for additional services,” she said. “They came back to me stating that she wasn’t two years behind so there was nothing that they could do to help her. A year later she failed 3rd grade and it forever affected her.”

 “Later in the future I had twins and vowed to not let that happen to them. I first began volunteering at their school, subbing, then working in special education. Hodges added. “It wasn’t until Covid-19 I went back to school for my licence. It was the best decision I have ever made.”

When she is not teaching here at GHS Hodges is with her family and friends, “I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going to church, shopping, and painting. I love trying new restaurants, going to the movies, and gardening,” she said.