Teacher recognized as 2007 Distinguished Educator of the Year

Feb. 19, 2007 —Jane Ann Brown, bilingual kindergarten teacher at Francone Elementary School, was recently named Distinguished Elementary Teacher of the Year by Sam Houston State University and will be recognized at the third annual Distinguished Educator of the Year Awards Ceremony on March 3 in Huntsville, Texas.

After being nominated for the award by an SHSU alumna, Brown submitted a portfolio consisting of her teaching experience, community service work and five letters of recommendation. Recipients of the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award were selected based on demonstrated expertise or outstanding service in the classroom, school district and/or community.

A graduate from SHSU, Brown has taught grades prekindergarten through second during her 25 years at Francone Elementary, where she is currently a bilingual kindergarten teacher.

As an educator, Brown has received the following accolades: 2001 Spotlight teacher for Francone Elementary; Francone Elementary Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 2002; Cy-Fair Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 2002; Suburban Houston Association for Bilingual Education Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 2002; finalist for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education; and one of four top finalists for the Children's Museum of Houston's Speros Early Childhood Educator Award 2006.

Additionally, she has had the opportunity to present at conferences throughout Texas including the Texas Association for Bilingual Education in Dallas, Ft. Worth, El   Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Galveston. Recently, she was asked to become a Quantam Learning facilitator for SuperCamps in the United States and in Spanish-speaking countries.

“I know that I would not have had the opportunities to grow professionally and become a successful educator without the help of my administration,” Brown said. “My principal, Sue Romanowsky, has been instrumental in encouraging me, as well as the Francone staff, to use balanced literacy and Quantam Learning techniques.”

Brown has also dedicated time to serving the community by teaching Vacation Bible School to three, four and five year olds for the Klein United Methodist Church, working with parents during Saturday Parenting classes held at Francone and working as a league secretary for the Klein Eagles Youth Football Organization.