Kansas Master Teacher Jessica Brown

“While populations, demographics, and buildings may change, the need for every child, paraprofessional, specialist, and teacher within my classroom to feel seen and loved is what sets the precedent for every decision, support, interaction, and intentional word used,” she wrote.

Each day, Brown’s students meet the best Miss Brown she can be that day, she said.

“I want it to be known from the beginning and moving forward that I, as Miss Brown, will never be perfect and will never set expectations for my scholars, fellow staff members, or others to be perfect,” she wrote. “But I will always uphold the expectation that we are always present as Safe-Keepers for each other. It is my job to make sure it is safe within my classroom and the job of those who enter my classroom to help keep it that way.”

As a teacher, Brown has implemented Project-Based Learning strategies in her classroom to meet the needs of her English Language Learners and teach higher-order thinking and soft skills to all her students. AVID’s mission is to prepare students for college or careers after high school graduation. Within that mission Brown strives to provide her students with exposure to careers and opportunities.

“Through partnerships I created with local businesses, my students explore opportunities and develop “real-world” skills in connection with our academic standards,” she wrote. “My first graders recently worked with a local jewelry artist to design, market, and sell their own polymer clay jewelry in an online auction.”

Alongside her excellent teaching, Brown also advocates for the mental health of teachers. She said, though a rewarding profession, teaching also has become a silent crisis for teachers’ mental health.

“The immense stress and challenges we face daily, including managing extreme student behaviors, can lead to mental and emotional trauma,” she wrote. “We are often told to keep teaching, to accept these issues, and to witness harm without speaking up.”

Brown said it is essential for everyone inside and outside of education to recognize that the mental health of teachers directly impacts the quality of education.

“We're not alone in our struggles,” she wrote. “Students also witness and internalize these challenges. Yet, while we have systems and resources in place to support students, there is little acknowledgment or sustainable solutions for teacher mental health.”

Brown earned three degrees from Emporia State University: a bachelor of science in elementary education with a leadership minor in 2013, a STEM-ALL certificate in 2017, a master of science in curriculum and instruction with a teacher leadership emphasis in 2021 and a master of science in educational administration in 2023.

Colleague Caitlin DeFilippo, National Board-Certified Teacher and 2020 Blue Valley Teacher of the Year said that Brown exemplifies integrity, honesty, and professionalism in all aspects of her work.

“She is truly authentic and consistently seeks out new methods and approaches to enhance the learning experiences for her students,” DeFilippo wrote. “She is an outstanding teacher who consistently goes above and beyond for her students.”