Kelley Brown - 2021 Teacher of the Year
East Hampton High School ~ East Hampton, MA
Kelley Brown
K-12 TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TEACHER, EASTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, Easthampton, MA
Full-time Social Studies and Government Teacher, (Fall 2001-present). Courses: AP US History, AP US Government, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, Introduction to World Politics, US History I Special Education Inclusion, World History II.
Additional responsibilities: School-Based Professional Development Coordinator, Department Chair/Team Leader, {Fall 2004-2019). Data Team Member, Certified Mentor, International Teacher Host.
GRADUATE COURSE INSTRUCTOR, Westfield and Fitchburg State Universities. (2012-present). Design and teach constitutional law courses for educators in both face-to-face on on-line environments.
- The Right to Privacy: The Most Valued and Comprehensive Right {2021) co-taught with David Hudson
- Black Communities and Agency: Fighting Jim Crow (2020) co-taught with Amilcar Shabazz, UMass
- A Fixed Star: Teaching the First Amendment (2020) co-taught with David Hudson, Belmont University Teaching the US Constitution in the 21st Century, (2015, 2019) with Akhil Reed Amar, and David Hudson Equal Protection and the Constitution: Teaching Modern Struggles for Justice with Struggling Learners {2016) co-taught with Akhil Reed Amar, Yale Law School
- Teaching Immigration in America (2012-2014) co-taught with K. Scott Wong, Williams College
- Teaching the Civil Rights Movement (2013-2014) co-taught with scholar Amilcar Shabazz, UMass, Amherst
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT/FACILITATOR EXPERIENCE
- Department of Youth Services Juvenile Justice System Professional Development Facilitator (2006-present). National Endowment for The Humanities Summer Institutes Teacher Facilitator, (2015, 2019).
- Library of Congress: Teaching with Primary Sources: Professional Development Facilitator (2013-present}). James Madison Legacy Project, Center for Civic Education, (2017-19).
- Teaching American History Programs (2007-2012).
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA: M. Ed. In Secondary Teacher Education/ Concentration in Social Studies Education, May 2001 Honors: Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Community Service, 2001
- Amherst College, Amherst, MA: Bachelor's Degree of Liberal Arts, May 1999 Honors: Magna cum Laude
- Massachusetts Educator Certifications: Professional Social Studies, grade 9-12, Principal/Assistant Principal
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
- Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Finalist (2021)
- Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education (2016)
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Local Hero Award (2011)
- Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year (2010)
- Disney Teacher of the Year Award (2006)
Kelley Brown, a member of NCSS, was selected the 2021 Teacher of the Year by the American Lawyers Alliance. The ALA presents this prestigious award to teachers who make significant contributions in the field of law-related education. For the past 20 years, Ms. Brown has been a full time Social Studies and Government teacher at Easthampton High School in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
Ms. Brown believes the most important course she teaches is We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a course in which high school students conduct real world research and apply their knowledge to legal and constitutional issues. Students leave her course equipped to analyze the world around them. They are active in their community, and they want to lead the future. Last year, her students were the We the People National Champions.
For the past fifteen years, she has provided professional development in civics, law and social studies for well over one thousand K-12 educators across New England through multiple programs and independent consulting.
In 2018, Massachusetts released a new curriculum framework with a renewed civic-mission. Ms. Brown served on the development committee and helped with the rollout by providing webinars on the civic practice standards and facilitating professional development workshops in 11 school districts across the state of Massachusetts.
For the last two years, she has been working with a colleague to develop an online K-5 History and Civics Curriculum. Launched in February 2020, to support the new 2018 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework, History’s Mysteries quickly became a go-to tool for many educators across the country teaching in remote, hybrid and face-to-face classrooms. While still in its first year, History’s Mysteries is being used by educators in all 50 states and is filling a need for accessible and engaging elementary civics and history curricula. They have received two rounds of funding from the Library of Congress, have presented for the National Council for History Education and their curriculum is featured on the newly released Educating for American Democracy Website which is receiving nation-wide recognition and promotion as a nonpartisan roadmap for civics and history education.
Among her many awards, she was a 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Finalist.
Congratulations, Ms. Brown, and thank you for your passion, dedication and profound impact on the next generation of citizens.