Tracy Bradford, the recently hired education specialist for the Women’s Museum, has been helping in creating and maintaining many of the museum’s educational programs.

As a former teacher, she understands where many of the teachers are coming from and what they expect when they bring their students to various programs. Even more, she gets to interact with different grade levels every single time, just as she did when she taught.

Bedford taught every grade from seventh through 12th, with the exception of 10th.

After that, the College of William and Mary alumna, took a hiatus and focused on other priorities.

“I took off for 12 years to stay home and raise my kids and to be an Army wife,” Bradford said. “He is still active duty. Hopefully we will retire here, we love it here.”

Bradford said she was waiting for the right opportunity to arise. “I was waiting for the right job,” she said. “I got an e-mail ... It was kind of random.”

Soon after, she started her job at the museum.

She jumped right in alongside Françoise Bonnell, the education and training specialist, to ensure the quality programs and education for local students and teachers.

“It’s kind of my dream job, too,” Bradford said. “I get to work with all different grade levels, different time periods, different settings ... it’s very interesting to me to have that variety.”

Bradford also appreciates variety in her life.

She and one of her two daughters have been training their dog, Darby, to be a certified therapy dog.

She hopes to eventually take Darby to different veterans hospitals to visit with soldiers who were injured in Iraq.

• Lindsay Simpson may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 272 or lsimpson@progress-index.com.