Vestavia Hills teacher Jennifer Brown had 'eye-opening' year as 2015-16 Alabama Teacher of the Year

When Vestavia Hills High School science teacher Jennifer Brown was named the 2015-16 Alabama Teacher of the Year one year ago, she envisioned herself inspiring and empowering educators across the state.

“Little did I know I was going to be the one who was constantly inspired,” Brown said Wednesday night at the ceremony in Montgomery to name the 2016-17 Alabama Teacher of the Year. “Little did I know it was going to be the most rewarding and enriching and eye-opening experience of my life.”

Brown told the crowd on the top floor of the RSA Plaza that she visited about 80 Alabama schools the past year in her role as a teacher advocate and trainer, and she was inspired by what she saw.

“We have so many amazing teachers in our state. I wish everybody had the opportunity to visit the schools and see the amazing work happening in our classrooms,” Brown said. “I know one thing — we wouldn’t be having these arguments about teacher evaluations and college and career-ready standards and pay raises.”

Brown was particularly active in opposing state Rep. Del Marsh’s bill that sought to change the way teachers are evaluated, base 25 percent of teachers’ evaluations on their students’ test scores and increase from three to five years the amount of time it takes teachers to earn tenure.

She mobilized teachers and others to contact state legislators in opposition to the bill, and opponents were able to keep it from getting to the floor of the House for a vote.

She also led a campaign to invite legislators into teachers’ classrooms to see firsthand what education looks like today.

Philip Cleveland, the interim state superintendent of education, said he watched Brown in action during the legislative session and saw all she did to promote public education and make sure that elected officials understand about the good things going on in public education in Alabama.

“Thank you for your commitment,” Cleveland told Brown during Wednesday night’s ceremony.

Brown helped Cleveland present the 2016-17 Alabama Teacher of the Year award to Dana Jacobson, who has taught for 16 years at Clay-Chalkville High School in the Jefferson County system and almost 24 years in total.

They also honored Dawn Davis of the Montana Street Academic Magnet School in Dothan as the state’s alternate Teacher of the Year (and top elementary finalist), as well as the entire “Sweet 16” finalists from across the state.

Brown told the 16 finalists she knows how much work they put in between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., plus the after-school coaching and sponsoring of academic and extra-curricular groups, not to mention their night-time job of grading papers, planning, and calling and emailing parents.

“Thank you for your dedication to our profession and the impact on the lives of your students,” Brown said.

Brown recounted some of the visits she made to Alabama classrooms this past year.

She talked about how James Clemens High School in Madison has a “refuel hour” during which all 1,700 students are served lunch within an hour and allowed to eat just about anywhere in the school as they have club meetings, advisory sessions and intervention times.

When she told some other educators about it, they said they could never let students eat anywhere in the school, but James Clemens does it successfully, she said.

“I was reminded of what happens when what’s best for students is always at the center of the decision-making processes and not what’s best for adults,” she said.

She touted a data room at White Plains Middle School in Calhoun County, where teachers keep track of all 800 students and whether they are on grade level, above grade level or need an accelerated learning plan, she said.

“I was reminded what happens when teachers and leaders understand that every student learns at different levels and then commits to making sure all those students succeed,” she said.

Then there was Sumter Central High School in Sumter County, where teacher Danny Donovan created an online page where people could donate money so science students at the school could conduct dissection projects for the first time at the school.

“He raised enough money for those kids to be able to dissect,” Brown said. “Walking in and seeing those kids so excited, I was reminded that we have so many teachers like Mr. Donovan in Alabama who go above and beyond to make sure their students have extraordinary learning experiences.”

Brown challenged all educators to share the stories of what’s happening in their schools with anyone who will listen, from colleagues to PTO groups, the media, elected officials and their friends and neighbors.

“Way too often, the wrong stories are shared, and those are the ones that get all the attention,” Brown said. “Our work matters. What we do on behalf of our students every day matters. As we celebrate your successes tonight, let’s commit to elevate the profession and change the narrative about public education. I’m very proud to be a teacher in Alabama.”

Cleveland said the commitment and dedication of educators in Alabama is unbelievable.

“It’s amazing that people choose to go into a profession and they obviously go into a profession not for the money, but because of wanting to do something for someone else,” he said.

Most of the time, the general public forgets to recognize just exactly how much hard work happens in the classroom, Cleveland said. “I commend every educator in the state of Alabama for their commitment to the children that are so important to the future of our state.”