The Family Feeling at Helmsburg Elementary
Kelli Bruner
~ by Sara Clifford
Last day of school,“ Can’ t Stop the Feeling” blares outside Helmsburg Elementary. Principal Kelli Bruner is on the microphone, narrating the dropoff line and dancing.
“ CJ, welcome!” she says as the tween exits a car, a slightly confused half-smile on his face.
“ Oh, Wyatt has arrived! Linda, Anna, and Miss Susie, I see you in there!”
“ Ellie girl, you look beautiful for your last day! Good morning! Good morning!”
Then comes my kid— usually late— greeted on his final day in elementary with a bear hug:“ Henry! Henry’ s here! We can start school!” And the teachers under the portico cheer.
For 30 years, one of those smiling faces has been Mrs. Bruner, for the past 20 as principal.
Helmsburg is home— and she’ s far from the only
60 Our Brown County July / August 2026 photo by Sara Clifford one who feels that way.
“ Family” is what parents and staff identify as the personality of Helmsburg Elementary. Sprunica and Van Buren are great in their own ways, but something’ s different about Helmsburg, said PTO volunteer Lorna Reichmann.
“ There’ s something kinder here,” said Reichmann, who has had at least one child there for 14 years.
The family culture is intentional— and also, it’ s not. Some of it happens naturally when about a third of teachers and staff have been together for a decade or more and some have known each other since high school. Same, too, for the parents: Many of them had Mrs. Bruner as their teacher; now, she is shepherding their children.
Yet, Bruner’ s leadership makes a difference as well, said Laura Crum, administrative assistant for 29 years.“ She’ s kind about people’ s needs, and when your staff