She also serves as the English Department Chair and the Journalism Advisor. In 2011, Ms. Brave was named the Illinois Teacher of the Year. She currently serves as a Member of the Board of Examiners for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and is a Member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators. Ms. Brave holds B.A. in Mass Communication and an M.S. in Education from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.