Josalyn Brown
I am an AACPS: 3rd Grade Teacher, Crofton Woods Elementary School | 2017 Teacher of the Year Nominee
A wise person once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” I love teaching. I love the promise that each new school year brings. I love the smell of a fresh box of crayons. I love seeing the smile on a child’s face when they feel good about themselves. I love making a difference.
I decided to be a teacher in my late twenties. I was working for a large company in Nashville as a sales representative. I enjoyed the perks of being a sales rep—a flexible schedule, a company car, and an expense account—but something was missing. I loved being with the team, coaching, mentoring and most of all, building relationships with the girls. Something inside of me came alive, and after a lot of soul searching, I decided to go back to school to enroll in an accelerated Master’s program. I moved home to Maryland to begin my life as an educator, and what a difference it has made.
In all of my years as a teacher my one goal has been to make my students feel accepted and willing to take risks. My classroom is a place of acceptance, and everyone is part of the team. I want students to know that I believe in them, and that I intend to be their biggest cheerleader. I feel that when they know I’m invested in their lives then they are willing to work hard, not only for me, but for themselves. I strive for each student to have a “can do attitude.” We celebrate the big victories, but the little ones, too. If my students leave me in June saying I learned a lot this year, But I also feel good about the person I am, then I have done my job…and what a perfect job it is!
