Teacher Feature: Brown encourages students to read
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After taking some classes, however, her ambition soon drifted toward becoming a teacher. She went on to attend Motlow State and graduated from Tennessee Tech. She came to this area to begin her career because she had learned there were many opportunities for teachers here.
“I really like it here,” says Brown. She is in her third year teaching at Hickory Creek, where she taught third-graders her first year of teaching. “When I switched to fifth grade last year,” she recalls, “some warned me the older grades could be rougher, harder to teach. I love working with them, though. I really like this age.”
Brown tries to encourage her students to read by providing a special classroom area for them to do so when they have completed other class work.
This corner of the room includes a carpeted area with a bench and various chairs (bean bag, etc.) for them to enjoy. They also read class novels together.
One of her students, Faith Gallagher, says she really likes the way Miss Brown teaches. “She is fair and very encouraging,” says Faith. Moe Gallagher, Faith’s mother, says Faith really likes her teacher and enjoys being in her class.
Brown has always liked working with children. She began tutoring students at Hickory Creek a couple of years before graduating from college. Candace Cutrell, a local beautician and friend of Brown, says she’s very good with kids.
“She taught Sunday school at church last year, and currently teaches a group there on Wednesday nights,” says Candace. “I hope, if I ever have children, they would be lucky enough to have her for a teacher.”
“The best feeling you get is that the kids walk away proud of what they learned, and can help the next child understand what they now know,” says Brown. She pushes for that and says her only regret is the feeling you can’t meet every single need, although you want to.
Brown enjoys outdoor activities such as softball and volleyball, along with reading, when she’s not teaching. She admits there’s not as much time for that as many might think.
“It’s not a job that ends at 3 o’clock,” she said, advising any teacher just beginning their career to keep that in mind. “There is a lot of planning that goes on, and you are not less of a teacher if you’re not finished by the end of the day.”
She stresses the kids come first, and that flexibility and parent communication are very important.