ON ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS SUMMER 2025
Graduate spotlight: Blaine High School graduate’ s inspiring path to leadership
Brunsell assumes the role as the first female fire chief in the City of Golden Valley.
In January 2011, Brunsell was hired by the West Metro Fire District, a joint powers district serving the cities of Crystal and New Hope. She continued teaching middle school orchestra while working as a paid-on-call firefighter. She fell in love with the work.
“ The variety of the work, helping people, and the physical aspect— I just fell in love with the job,” Brunsell said.“ I was breaking many stereotypes, and after a few years, I left teaching to work solely as a firefighter.”
She eventually returned to her original passion of teaching when she was hired by the St. Paul Fire Department as a public educator, combining her dual interests of education and fire safety. Brunsell moved to Maple Grove, serving as a firefighter and public educator before rising to roles as lieutenant and captain, which led to a new role as the assistant chief of training with the City of Golden Valley and a promotion to Fire Chief.
“ I never thought I would end up as a fire chief,” Brunsell said.“ It’ s been an incredible journey, supported by great mentors and opportunities that have shaped my career.”
Whether teaching fifth graders how to play the violin or instructing about fire safety, Brunsell has found her calling in serving others.
“ That’ s what I enjoy the most, helping people,” Brunsell said.“ It’ s a huge honor that we as firefighters are trusted by the community on people’ s worst days. There are very few professions where someone will hand you their baby without hesitation or doubt, trusting you fully. Being entrusted with that responsibility is a huge honor and privilege.” n
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Bethany Brunsell, a 1994 graduate of Blaine High School( BHS), was named the first female fire chief for the City of Golden Valley in March 2024, becoming one of just three female fire chiefs in the state. Although firefighting wasn’ t her first calling, she climbed the ranks from a paid-on-call firefighter to chief in 14 years of service.
For the love of music
Brunsell grew up in Blaine and attended Sand Creek Elementary School, where she was first introduced to the viola in fifth grade. After considering switching to the flute and joining the band in sixth grade, she realized she had the talent and passion for playing the viola and continued with it at Roosevelt Middle School.
“ I just fell in love with the viola and stuck with it,” Brunsell said.“ One of the most influential parts of my education in Anoka-Hennepin was joining the orchestra and learning to play the viola at Sand Creek.”
She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher and was inspired by BHS orchestra teacher Ed Schaefle to pursue a career in music education.“ Orchestra class was my safe place and my happy place where I felt successful, cared about, and respected by other students and teachers,” Brunsell said.“ That inspired me to become a teacher so I could provide the same for other students.”
Brunsell studied music education at the University of Minnesota, and after graduating in 2001, she secured her first teaching position in a familiar community. She taught orchestra at Oak View and Fred Moore middle schools. Brunsell eventually took a position at FAIR School in Crystal, continuing to teach middle school orchestra.
Brunsell also continues to perform as a member of the Northern Symphony Orchestra alongside her sister and many district alumni and retired staff members.
Curiosity sparked a new journey
While teaching at FAIR School, she saw advertisements for on-call firefighters, and, as the years went on, those ads continued to catch her eye.
“ I went to an informational meeting to see what it was about,” Brunsell explained.“ I didn’ t know that I would become a firefighter, and I felt that I didn’ t meet the stereotypical firefighter expectations, but I put in an application, and to my surprise, I kept making it through every phase of the hiring process.”