November 7, 2007

MEDIA INTERVIEW ADVISORY - Staying on top of your profession in today's world

Ninety-plus-year-old WSU alumna has the right ingredients

Wayne State University alumna and former Detroiter Eleanor Bralver, now a young 94-year-old, began her teaching career in public health in Detroit and retired from the teaching profession at 92 from Sylmar High School. She was the oldest full-time public school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District in California. Bralver may also hold the title of the oldest full-time public school teacher in the country.

She knows the right ingredients for a successful career—compassion and commitment for what you do. That helped fuel Bralver’s success teaching her students about living the healthiest lives they can.

Bralver has earned many accolades including numerous teacher of the year awards, and was a featured guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, among others. During her 35 years of teaching health, Bralver completed 22 years with perfect attendance. Her mantra—“Teach health like your life depends on it.” Bralver’s passion for teaching has resulted in changing the lives of hundreds of her students.

Bralver can’t be dubbed as your typical ninety-plus-year-old; she is wired in today’s world, living on her computer. During her teaching career, Bralver taught hundreds of young people the importance of being physically, emotionally and sexually healthy. She believes that peer pressure is tremendous and the proper guidance is important—especially in today’s world.

Bralver earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Wayne State University in 1934, and a master’s degree also in education in 1938. She notes with pride that she was a member of the class that helped name the institution Wayne University, which later became Wayne State University.

FOR INTEVIEW OPPORTUNITES: Broadcast and print interview opportunities are available with Eleanor Bralver. To schedule an interview, please contact Cheryl Yurkovich at (313) 577-2150 or e-mail cyurkovich@dmac.wayne.edu  

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