White House Author

Whether it’s teaching her child to read, meeting legislators, discouraging bullying, volunteering for "Jump rope for Heart," book fairs, "teacher appreciation" days, vision and hearing screenings, sharing Kwanzaa, or chairing "Kentucky PTA Kids’ Day," Kentucky delegate Brenda Drummer Martin considers each a joy. Each task fills an important role of an advocating parent and it's what she lovingly achieves for children, Russell Independent Schools, and for Kentucky. The best gift she can give her children is teaching them reading, arithmetic, writing, nutrition, art and some science before they even started school. Drummer Martin believes that a good healthy start helps children feel competent and more passionate about school. She is 2nd Vice-President of Russell Primary School's PTA, where her daughter, Jocelyn Martin, attends and where she recruits more parents into this fabulous organization to advocate for students, good teachers and schools. With the school’s support, she started a Parent Teacher Student Association at Russell High School where her son, Caleb Martin, attends. As a Mentor, Homeroom Mom, President of NE Kentucky PTA, former President of NE Kentucky Association for Gifted Education, SBDM Council and Commonwealth Institute Parent Leadership Fellow, Drummer Martin has helped make education better. She serves on the Teacher Effectiveness Assessment Committee with Kentucky’s Education Commissioner. She started an after (middle) school club in Science and Technology which later evolved into a summer camp partnering with community organizations. Whether she’s driving across the state to its capitol or down the street for an anti¬drug meeting, she learns and shares information with students, educators, administrators and other parents. She believes it takes all of us to transform schools into more cohesive "villages" equipped for the 21st century that make life-long learning a joy, a privilege, an expectation and a reality for all children. Parents must be the conjunctions linking prepared students to effective schools, and Drummer Martin is proud to do so.