Cynthia Brawner is a veteran National Board Certified Teacher in primary education and a professional development education consultant. Her professional development specialty is providing educators with innovative ELA, science, and social studies strategies for immediate classroom implementation. She has provided literacy professional development to superintendents, principals, teachers and preservice teachers, throughout Illinois and nationally, since 1998. She is also a teacher representative for the Local School Council.

Through the Chicago Foundation of Education, Brawner served as a study group coach, reviewing and producing action research on urban neighborhoods and on fluency and comprehension in the early elementary grades. She is a teacher consultant for the Chicago Area Writing Program (CAWP) and a former CPS lead mentor.

Brawner was a Chicago Teachers' Union delegate and has served on the CPS Early Literacy Subcommittee and as an early literacy specialist with Talk, Reach, Read Everyday.

She is also a former instructor for Roosevelt University, lecturer with Chicago State University, and fellow with the Teacher Network Policy Institute.

Brawner was selected as an ASCD Emerging Leader in 2005. She is listed in the Marquis Who's Who of American Women, Marquis Who's Who in American Education, and Who's Who Among American Teachers.

Brawner holds an MS in school administration, an MA in early childhood education, and a BA in journalism.