Teacher Judy Brown from National Trail Local Schools, is pictured with Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine.
All Ohio’s 2024 Teachers of the Year are pictured in the House Chamber gallery. Pictured from top to bottom and left to right are Joesph Miller, Timothy Hubbard, Shanti’ Coaston, Jennifer Kinkoph, Salli Swisher, Judy Brown, and Jennifer Best.
COLUMBUS — National Trail teacher Judy Brown was one of Ohio’s 2024 Teachers of the Year recognized during Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State address on Wednesday, April 10.
“A good teacher has the power to fundamentally change the course of a child’s life,” Governor DeWine said during his address. “I’m sure that each of us can recall at least one great teacher who inspired us or motivated us and really changed our lives.”
A National Trail High School math teacher, Brown was recently named District #3 Ohio Teacher of the Year after being nominated for Ohio Teacher of the Year by NT student Jamison Watts.
The state of Ohio is divided into 11 districts. District #3 includes Preble County, Miami County, Montgomery County and Butler County.
Brown teaches Math 9, Algebra 2 and precalculus at National Trail, where she has taught high school mathematics for the last eight years. She began her career as a junior high mathematics teacher in the Northwest Local School District in Cincinnati and later became the career coordinator for the district of over 10,000 students.
Brown wrote curriculum and presented workshops for the Greater Cincinnati Teacher of Mathematics, Ohio Teacher of Mathematics and the National Teacher of Mathematics organizations, as well as at Wright State University and numerous school districts. She enjoyed teaching a graduate mathematics methods class at Mount Saint Joseph University and co-founding a STEM School.
Brown served as a leader for the Dayton Area Mathematics Teachers Circle and has served as a mentor and has been mentored through Inspire Up since its inception. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Miami University, Brown received the Christofferson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
“Her passion is for students and mathematics and integrating the two through project-based learning,” a press release noted announcing the honor said in March. She has written six online books which are used in Africa, where she taught during the summer four years ago. “Brown believes that mathematics enriches the lives of students and provides opportunities for lifelong learning, especially for young women.”
The State Teachers of the Year were first recognized at the State Board of Education meeting in December in Columbus.
Each year, the Ohio Teacher of the Year nominations are open February through early April. School administrators, colleagues, community members, parents or students may submit a nomination for one or multiple teachers from a school or district. State Board of Education members assist with the recognition program activities. Following an in-depth nomination, application and selection process this year, 11 State Board District Teachers of the Year were selected for 2024. Selected teachers move through two levels of recognition: the State Board District Teacher of the Year as a regional recognition and the Ohio Teacher of the Year as the state-level recognition.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
