Navy veteran, EX-EMT finds her way back to education
Katrina Brumfield named 1 of 4 Excellence in Teaching honorees.
Katrina Brumfield knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since the first day she started going to school.
Brumfield, who teaches fifthgrade math, has taught for 12 years, with 11 of them at Lincoln Elementary School in the Springfield City School District.
Brumfield and three other teachers will receive the Excellence in Teaching award on March 27. The 34th awards program is sponsored by the Springfield Rotary Club, First Energy, The Springfield Foundation, the Greater Springfield Partnership and the Springfield News-sun.
Each recipient will be introduced and give a short presentation on what teaching has meant to them and the importance of being a teacher. Recipients will also receive a $1,000 check, a recognition plaque and an etched paperweight.
Brumfield said she felt teaching has been her calling, and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
“As I was growing up, I didn’t see myself going to college, so I joined the Navy and was going a medical route. When I got out, I was working as an EMT and got injured, so I went back to school and teaching,” she said.
Brumfield, who has taught mainly math over the years, said it’s her favorite subject to teach, as she taught it to fourth graders for 10 years before moving to fifth grade.
She said she’s a role model to students and wears many hats in the classroom, but that her favorite part is the “ah-ha” moment when she sees the light bulb go off or hears kids gasp because it clicked and they caught onto it.
“Being able to do that and present math to these kids in a fun and exciting way, and being able to build the relationships I’ve built, it’s been amazing and a
true blessing,” she said. “It’s just showing my students that there’s more to life that what they’re seeing right now. I truly want to keep building these relationships with these students and connect with them.”
Brumfield said she feels humbled by winning this award. She said with so many great teachers, even being nominated was great and a blessing, so to win, she’s in awe of the recognition.
Brumfield earned her undergraduate degree from Wright State University with a concentration in mathematics, social studies and reading.