This year the NDA French department welcomes a new and passionate teacher—Mrs. Brenda Rentmeester.

“I fell in love with French the very first day of high school,” said Rentmeester.

The East High graduate followed her love to UW-Madison, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in French and International Relations. But, there was one, weighing issue: Rentmeester was not sure what to do with it.

Following graduation, Rentmeester worked in London for seven months.

When she first arrived, she worked at a temp agency but was hired by Harrod’s Department Store to work in the cosmetics/fragrance department. Rentmeester once had Hugh Grant as a customer.

When she came back to the U.S., Rentmeester moved to Portland, Oregon, with a friend for a change of pace.

She worked in customer service for France and Quebec during her year stay in Portland, then moved back to Madison, Wisconsin, and waitressed for a while.

One day, waitressing, she met the man that would propose to her under the Eiffel Tower.

Rentmeester has one daughter. The family enjoys speed boating, jet skiing, mini golf tournaments, and, most of all, football.

She always enjoyed watching football growing up, but after meeting her husband, it became a bigger part of her life.

“When it’s not football season, I’m just a little lost,” said Rentmeester.

The Packer fan stays very involved in the sport all season as she plays in the NFL fantasy football league.

After Rentmeester fell in love with her football-frenzied husband, she worked for a transportation company making routes.

But, about 5 years ago Rentmeester decided she needed to fit her love of French back into her life.

She enrolled at UW-Green Bay to earn teaching certification and then worked right next door to NDA, teaching French at Franklin Middle School.

But, NDA is a different experience for her.

She connected it to the students’ “building character” while having “dedication to their education.”  

Overall, Rentmeester says her first three weeks at NDA have been “amazing” and she would love to remain here for future years.