Name: Carl Bruner
Occupation: Retired K-12 Educator
How long have you been in this industry? 37 years
What is your background, work experience, and education?
Worked as a teacher, school psychologist and administrator, retiring after 16 years as superintendent of the Mount Vernon School District. Earned my BA from the Univ. of Texas (Austin), and my Masters and Doctorate from the Univ. of Washington (Seattle).
Number of years living/working in the Skagit Valley?
34 years
What inspires your work or sets your business apart?
From day one, I was motivated by the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and youth.
What is something most people don’t know about your industry?
Most people believe they have a lot of knowledge about public schools given their own personal experience. But even parents often lack an understanding of how far public schools have come in their efforts to meet the needs of each individual student, regardless of their challenges.
What does community mean to you?
At an early age, I learned the importance of being an active part of and supporting the community in which I live. I’m a firm in the old adage, “The true measure of any society [or community] can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
Hiking and backpacking; reading; golf; supporting my grandkids through remote learning!
Besides Rotary, what other community organizations are you involved in?
I currently serve on the Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Skagit County and the Brigid Collins Family Support Center.