Karna Brewer is the recording secretary for the REAM State Board of Directors. She makes her home in Anoka with her husband
of 20 years, Siegfried Brewer. She retired from the Anoka-Hennepin School District in 1996 where she had most recently taught second grade. A graduate of the former Mankato Teachers College, she started her teaching career in Hayfield where she taught fourth grade, and then moved to Babbitt and continued to teach fourth grade.
Karna has been a member of the Anoka Planning Commission for 17 years and also serves as the Planning Commission’s representative to the Anoka Parking Advisory Board. She is also involved in AARP and has served as a team member on the Grass Roots Advocacy Team. She volunteers at the Anoka Care Center where she and Siegfried run a bingo game. Karna is active in her church in a host of activities, including Meals on Wheels. Politically active, Karna has acted in a host of positions in her party on the precinct level up to state district conventions and a gubernatorial campaign.
A talented seamstress, Karna sews costumes for the Anoka-Ramsey Community College theater department large musical productions. She has continued this after retirement, and now also sews for the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage Theatre of Anoka when asked.
She has enjoyed a myriad of activities ranging from spending a four week stint at fishing and hunting camp in Alaska, an archaeological dig in Israel, a paleontology dig in South Dakota, to riding camels on the Grand Canary Island of Tenerife.
Embroidery, photography, cribbage, reading mystery novels, singing, public speaking and writing fill quieter moments. She says she finds “great satisfaction in being useful and helpful”.
In asking Karna about her interest in REAM, she said “I wanted to become a member of the REAM State Board of Directors with the belief that it was an organization with the power to create change for the betterment of all educators. I wanted to be a part of and contribute to that change, and you will be too when you join REAM along with getting others to join with you. Each of you make REAM what it is today. Make it a good place to be!”
