Katrese Bradley

Katrese Bradley, a social worker for RHS, has a supporting and understanding personality that makes her a reliable support for her students, all while being a hardworking mother. She is filled with so much pride working here at the High, inspiring her students and everyone around her. In fact, she says that it’s her students that are her favorite thing about her job. “I love my students. They are definitely a joy, and they’ll pop in and say hello just to see you and talk about their day,” she beams.

She graduated from RHS in 2007 and went on to study at two different universities. Getting her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Alvernia, and then earning her Master’s from Kutztown in   Social Work, this solidified her career path. “I've always loved helping people. I think you could ask anyone that knows me,” she says. Before she started working at RHS, she worked at many social work agencies like Berks County Children & Youth Services, Berks County Area Agency on Aging, Compassus Hospice, and Haven Behavioral Hospital. She then came back home, beginning her tenure here at RHS in February, 2020.

Being loyal and faithful to the Red Knight image, she continues to contribute and to put in so much hard work and pride into her community. She’s on the Board of Directors for The Village of Reading. She is also involved with her church, Union Baptist Church. In addition to her community roles, she also plays a big part in supporting R students here at the High. She is an advisor for Key Club and a part of the Sunshine Committee. She feels at home here, knowing she can contribute to both the larger  and smaller community here at RHS. “I love Reading, where I'm from. I was born and raised here. I just love to see the community flourish and I need to make my impact and leave my footprint,” she proudly states.

She loves seeing her students succeed. Graduation day is her favorite day because seeing the students walk across that stage lets her know she did her job. “It's always a surreal moment for our seniors when you see them walk across that stage. That is, like, my favorite part!” she states confidently. She enjoys having that connection with the students and the opportunity to be a part of their success story. And she doesn’t play favorites! When it comes to her students, “they’re all equally important to me,” she states.

Aside from being a role model to her students, she is also a role model to her daughter. She enjoys spending time with her by being a basketball mom. Her career allows her to motivate her daughter in the best way by being a source of stability by being dependable. When she is not in school, she enjoys traveling, trying different things, and shopping. She balances her personal and her work life, all while staying organized and true to her craft. “Just trying to stay organized so I am where I need to be all the time, to ensure that I'm meeting all my requirements,” she states.

So why did she agree to be interviewed for this website? She states that she wanted to be a part of something greater, and the Just A Kid from Reading Alumni Project gave her that opportunity. She is proud to tell her story and to show her love for where she's from.

She's proud, hardworking, and determined–all character traits that perfectly exemplify a Red Knight!