The students in Bradley Breuer’s fourth-grade class at Pedro Guerrero Elementary School in Mesa, AZ have become a symphony of success. Breuer –whose innovative teaching techniques incorporate his musical background—has demonstrated that students with significant challenges can achieve at very high levels. In 2009, 89 percent of his students met or exceeded proficiency in reading on state assessments and 82 percent of his students did so in math. In 2010, 95 percent met or exceeded proficiency in reading (compared to the school average of 51 percent). With almost all of his students coming from non-native-English-speaking families, and 95 percent qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches, Breuer’s talent for teaching is undeniable.
Recently Pedro Guerrero Elementary School entered its first year working with TAP™: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement. Having been the first teacher at the school to use data from the district’s acuity test to inform instruction, and a teacher to whom other instructors look for advice regularly, Breuer was unanimously elected as a TAP mentor teacher. In this role, he models TAP instructional strategies to other third- and fourth-grade teachers for two hours a week. Going above and beyond his required duties, Breuer spends additional time working with teachers off the clock practicing these new methods of instruction.
Breuer also spends time with students outside of the classroom. Once again putting his musical background to work, he formed a school band. To instill positive attitudes in his students, he formed an after-school football squad to help them learn important lessons about teamwork. Additionally, he serves on the Positive Behavior Intervention Committee, where he created a series of videos to demonstrate proper behavior to students. Breuer’s instructional skills as an educator and his personal passion for changing student attitudes have come together in perfect harmony through his work.
