“I’m proof that the impact of this school can come full circle. You can leave as a student and one day find yourself giving back to the community that helped shape you.”
~Kianei Brown, 8G Special Education Teacher
Now in her 2nd year as the eighth-grade special education math teacher, Ms. Kianei, affectionately known as Ms. K., still feels the surrealness she felt when she stepped back into the halls of Two Rivers. Her journey began long ago, in 2009, as a new eighth-grade student. A bit timid and uncertain about her new chapter, Kianei could not have imagined the memories, relationships, and self-discovery she would experience.
Where it all started
As a new student on the boat, one way she found her footing in the community was through her involvement with the dance crew. In hindsight, the dance crew was not merely about the physical act of performing for Kianei; it was an outlet for expression, empathy, and a chance to develop a deeper admiration for her community.
“Being on the dance crew was special,” she shares. “It taught me about character development, teamwork, and optimism.”
Dance crew wasn’t the only thing that shaped her into the person or teacher she is today.
Throughout our lives, it’s not unrealistic to cross paths with people who leave a lasting impression on us and sometimes influence the direction we choose to take. For Kianei, that person was Mr. Tarik Cranston, her former math teacher and the current Dean of Students at the middle school. When she reflects on her time at Two Rivers, she recognizes the impact he had on her, not only as her math teacher, but as someone who helped guide her decision to one day become a teacher.
“He made math feel approachable, but more importantly, he made me feel capable of learning and succeeding; I resonated with the way he believed that all people could learn, she recalls. “He encouraged us to keep trying and believe in ourselves.”
Mr. Tarik was not just her teacher. He was the kind of teacher who met students at their starting point and guided them to a world full of possibilities. His belief in the potential of all of his students stayed with her long after graduating from Two Rivers, a belief she holds in her classroom today.
Full Circle
After earning her Master’s degree in Teaching, Kianei began working in education and later returned to Two Rivers.
“What brought me back to Two Rivers was the mission. The mission is about more than academics—it’s about building a strong community, developing the whole student, and believing that every student can learn and grow.”
Although she is only in her second year on the Two Rivers staff, she has made immense contributions. In her first year, her students grew faster than 87% of students nationally, with achievement percentile gain rising 17 points from Spring 2025 (32nd) to Spring 2026 (49th).
“I want my students to know that where they begin does not determine where they end up,” she explains. These numbers reflect more than growth and achievement. They demonstrate the impact of an environment where students feel seen and challenged.
In many ways, Kianei is the teacher she once had or needed. Her story is a powerful reminder of Two Rivers’ goal: when students graduate from Two Rivers, they will have the cognitive and social skills to succeed in high school and college so that they are positioned to have rich and varied options for their future.
For Kianei, this goal was fulfilled when she returned to teach, helping advance the mission and goal while providing students with a psychologically safe environment.
~Isa Walker, Communications Associate
