Sometimes education is a lifelong passion. Mary Jane Brewster, even in retirement, is still educating teachers, counselors and other educational staff on the importance of how to help kids get along better.
Brewster worked in St. Cloud Area School District for 26 years as a counselor. While at Lincoln Elementary, she piloted a program called Friendship Groups. At the time, the groups focused on being a safe place where kids could discuss family issues such as divorce, feelings, self-esteem and coping skills. The Friendship Groups became so popular and helpful that the program expanded into seven different elementary schools within the District.
Because Brewster was juggling seven different schools and all the groups at each of the schools, she quickly learned to create her own curriculum and procedures for time management and organization. That’s when the idea to author a book began.
“A lot of new young people are intimidated by doing groups,” says Brewster. “My goal: make it easier. I wanted to be as clear as I could and organize it.”
Her book, “Friendship Groups,” wasn’t written overnight. In fact, it was 20 years in the making. It wasn’t until retirement that Brewster really dug in. She joined a group of authors and took a self-publishing class.
Brewster organized the book to be an easy step-by-step process for counselors wanting to do friendship groups.
“It’s organized by first, the prep and objectives, then forms, evaluations created to measure success, and then parent and teacher letters for every topic,” says Brewster.
The best part is the reasonable book price. Brewster just really wants the book to be easily accessible to teachers, counselors and other educational staff that work with students. It’s good information for everyone.
Brewster does workshops and volunteers at Catholic Charities with her spare time. However, right now with her book accomplished, she is enjoying life and spending time with family, especially her new grandchild.
Today, District 742 is proud to be one of the few districts in Central Minnesota to employ elementary counselors to serve our elementary children.
God bless you Mary Jane Brewster!