Brainworks® - About Us
About Us
Carla Crutsinger, M.S. (Education/Social Studies)
In 1981, Carla Crutsinger created the Brainworks Educational Center in response to her search for a facility which could address the needs of her highly intelligent, gifted ADD son who was not reaching his maximum level of achievement in school. Since then, Brainworks has helped over 1,000 clients of all ages with a wide variety of learning problems. As Director of Brainworks, Carla tests and interprets the results for all clients and works with her staff in the development of each individual's lesson plan. Her dynamic personality is particularly evident when she tutors selected clients one-on-one in areas such as time management, conflict resolution, and personal development.
In addition to her many responsibilities at the center, Carla presents workshops and staff development sessions on a wide variety of educational topics for school districts, parent associations, and other groups across the country. She has authored and co-authored a series of books dealing with topics such as communication skills for at-risk youth (Teenage Connection and Confidence Power ), study skills and critical thinking (Thinking Smarter), creative strategies for recalling information (Creative Memory), spelling mastery (The Most Wanted Words and Sir Spell-A-Lot-Grades 2-5), ADD coping skills (ADD QuickTips), and math strategies (Fighting Math Phobias).
Becky French, M. E. (Elementary Education, Reading)
Becky French is a retired elementary classroom teacher with 31 years classroom teaching experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and her master’s degree form Stephen F. Austin University. Becky taught 3rd and 4th grade in the Garland Independent School District for 15 years, and after receiving her Reading Recovery Certification, spent 8 years teaching reading to at risk first graders. After leaving public school, she taught 4th grade for 8 years at St. John’s Episcopal School in Dallas, where she was also the Director of the After School Program. She retired from classroom teaching in May of 2006.
Becky and her husband, Gary, who works as a freelance audio engineer, have grown twins. Her son, Chris, is a Naval flight Officer in the United States Navy. He, his wife and his boy girl twins are stationed in Pensacola, Florida. Her daughter Christy is a physical therapist who lives with her husband in Plano, Texas. They are expecting their first child in September 2009. In her spare time, Becky enjoys reading, spending time with friends, traveling, taking care of her grandchildren and listening to her husband play in a 60’s Rock n Roll Band. Becky is currently in charge of the elementary curriculum. She also serves as the Director of Brainworks.
Marilyn Bruno, M.S. (Secondary Education and Mathematics)
Marilyn Bruno received her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and completed her graduate work at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She is a retired mathematics teacher and taught at Newman Smith High School CFBISD for the last 31 years. She had the experience of teaching various mathematics courses both at the regular and Honors or Pre AP level including Advanced Mathematical Decision Making , Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, and Pre Calculus.
Marilyn and her husband Frank, a mathematics teacher of 42 years, share a love of teaching and value time working with young people. Frank presently teaches part-time at Faith Lutheran Classical School of Plano. Son Erik, a graduate of Texas A and M and Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been a Lutheran minister for the last 11 years and lives in Katy, Texas, with his wife Julie and seven-year-old daughter Ava. Son Greg, who graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and completed graduate work at Penn State, is currently Director of Photography at Macy's Home Store in New York City.
Marilyn's hobbies include reading and music. She has played the cello and piano and, in the past, enjoyed participating in college and community orchestras. The many activities that Marilyn and Frank love to share involve church activities, cultural events, and travel.