THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602270117
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
His students already know it.
Soon, the whole country will know.
Brandon Brown, a Fairfield Elementary School special education teacher, is a great guy.
The CBS morning news show ``This Morning'' says so and will recognize Brown on one of its Hero of the Day segments seen locally on WTKR Channel 3.
Brown was nominated for the honor by the parent of a student he's taught for the last five years. ``In my opinion, he deserves Hero of the Day each and every day!'' Marilyn Walker wrote to CBS in December.
Brown has taught Walker's son Brodie such concepts as how to use a ruler and apply it to a project, and how to read maps and find his way to a nearby shopping center.
Walker said she got a call from CBS last week telling her Brown had been selected as a hero and would be honored sometime soon. A photo of Brown will be shown as Walker's letter is read on the air, probably one morning next week.
Brown's dedication to his job will often lead him to spend 12 hours or more at the school, noted Walker, preparing and fine-tuning the set-up of the classroom and his plans for the next day's lessons. The 24-year teaching veteran shrugged off all the notice he's receiving (he's also been chosen as this year's Teacher of the Year, at his school). ``It would be a very unpleasant job to do if I were not absolutely organized,'' he explained. Brown said his long hours help him create lessons that flow smoothly. ``A child can humble you real fast,'' he said.
``I could use a pair of Roller-blades right about now,'' said the teacher one recent afternoon as he made his rounds of the classrooms where some of his students have been ``mainstreamed.'' Several times a day he walks the halls from classroom to classroom - sometimes just to let a student see him, sometimes to teach a segment of science or math for one of the other teachers with whom he collaborates. ``He's all over the building,'' said Principal Sophia Stubblefield.
Brown towers over his students, who range from kindergarten to sixth graders. He wears a whistle around his neck and talks about encouraging a team spirit among them. The team concept helps Brown keep the children focused on cooperation and learning. The sense of order is evident throughout the classroom. Work areas are set up to divide the room in smaller spaces where concentration is possible and distractions are few. When assignments are in progress he is at each desk where help is needed. As he calls for math books to be brought out of desks he mentions each child by name. When explaining a math problem he counts with his hands held out in front of him so all the children can see.
Brown said he uses every tool he can find to smooth off the rough edges that prevent learning. Woodworking is a favorite among Brown's students.
Stubblefield said, ``He's teaching these kids really difficult concepts (like decimal subtraction) and these are kids that everyone said could never learn.''
On weekends, he sometimes spends time with children out of school, kayaking with a student and his father.
Or, illustrating an earth science lesson on a Saturday afternoon by melting and pouring metal into a mold to make a keepsake toy soldier.
As a young man, Brown spent several summers as a camp counselor. But he didn't really consider teaching until his senior year in college. Having had his own problems as a student, he felt an affinity for the kids with special needs. For 10 of his 24 years he taught in psychiatric hospitals. Many of the lessons he learned help him be effective with his current students, some of whom are described as severely emotionally disabled.
Brown was surprised at his honors. ``It makes me feel kind of weird. I don't go out of my way to solicit this. In my job you can't patronize anybody. At times you have to ignore people,'' he said.
Brown is eager to share the attention. ``This is a school full of wonderful teachers,'' he repeated several times, ``Even when I'm working late at night, I'm not the only one here.''
He also credited involved parents. ``It is impossible to make much progress without a great set of parents . . . '' MEMO: The CBS ``This Morning'' show airs daily from 7 to 9 a.m. on WTKR
channel 3. Brandon Brown's segment will likely air next week.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARK YOUNG
``It would be a very unpleasant job to do if I were not absolutely
organized,'' says Brandon Brown, special education teacher at
Fairfield Elementary. Brown said his long hours help him create
lessons that flow smoothly. ``A child can humble you real fast.''
by CNB