Howard Brewer is the lead teacher at TSRC Alexandria, part of the network of Interagency Schools. “He is contracted to teach English courses but takes on many roles beyond his job description: protector, mentor, encourager, and challenger,” says nominator and colleague Jude Welling Barrows. “You see, at the Transition Support Resource Centers, we ONLY have students who have struggled in some way. Some come voluntarily to escape bullying, some seek an environment that provokes less anxiety. Others have had challenges with discipline, drugs, attendance, or community violations.”  

Barrows says that Brewer, with his infectious laugh and skills at building relationships, ensures that every student has a chance to succeed by giving them a blank slate when they arrive. “Mr Brewer challenges students to think deeper, push harder, and reach further than they could have even imagined,” she adds. “It cannot be overlooked that many of our students are young men of color who may have never had a teacher who looked like them before. Mr. Brewer is the role model these teens didn't know they needed. 

“He is a library of knowledge about programs that can benefit our students beyond our classrooms, such as supportive housing for students, vocational residential programs, and post-secondary education opportunities,” she adds. “Mr. Brewer makes strong relationships with parents, guardians, and social workers of kids in foster care. No student slips through the cracks on his watch…One of the leadership qualities that I admire most is that Mr. Brewer has his finger on the pulse of the neighborhoods in which our students reside. Our students deal with a great deal of chaos, violence, and instability outside of school. Mr. Brewer knows when something has happened in the community that may impact the hearts and heads of our students.  He helps the staff prepare to best serve our students when they are struggling with their outside lives. Without this leadership, our side would be merely a shadow of what it is today.” 

“Howard's empathy, insight, and kindness—coupled with his ability to maintain boundaries, discipline, and tough-love—is the combination of what he comes to school with on a daily basis,” says school counselor Michaelle O’Brien. “His students are Hearings Office assigned, court-appointed, receive special education, many with severe mental health issues as well as students who just can't be successful in a regular high school.  He builds these students up every single day. If they don't show up for school, Howard is the first to call the parent to find out why, and then encourages them to come to school.” 

Joanne Rosenthal, a veteran teacher with Interagency and former team teacher with Brewer states, “In my 30 years of working with at-risk students, I have never encountered anyone with Howard’s love of teaching and his love and respect for this population of students. After working with hundreds of students, he is still in touch with many of his students and celebrates all their accomplishments.”

Nominator and assistant administrator for Interagency schools Brandon Morehead notes that Brewer acts as a life coach for students. “He takes pride in getting to know the students and being a mentor to them, where he provides guidance in education and life,” says Morehead. “I can truly say because of Mr. Brewer many students have completed grade levels, graduated, stayed out of jail, and stayed alive.” 

Interagency Schools administrator Jennifer Knox explains that Brewer’s duties “go well above those of a teacher  Howard is a mentor to students and staff, protector, advocate, ‘family member’ they didn’t know they needed, and most importantly, many would say he gives those around him a purpose to be successful in life.”

Justina Copeland, current dean of students at Fairfax High School, shared, “Working with Howard Brewer is truly a one-of-a kind experience. He’s everyone’s favorite uncle. He is welcoming, sincere, down-to-earth, intelligent, and gregarious. Howard is the quintessential relationship builder, ultimately winning the hearts, minds, and interests of students and colleagues.”

Brewer served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years before earning a degree at the University of the District of Columbia. He began teaching in 1999, first as a summer school teacher then in his current position at TRSC at Bryant High. He has served as a basketball coach in the District and in Maryland schools.