By Katelyn Sims
Entering into her 25th of teaching for BISD, Stephanie Brownlee is excited for all that this year will bring. Before beginning her position as a sixth-grade teacher, Brownlee taught first grade for 18 years.
“I never dreamed of becoming a teacher, in fact I started out as a Theater Major. I was a single mom of one son and needed to think about a long-term job that would fit my mom schedule. I decided I could ‘act like a teacher’ and I fell in love with it,” said Brownlee.
Of all subjects to teach children in first grade, Brownlee loved to teach reading above all else – “the joy they express when it clicks is unmatched.”
To avoid a “burn-out,” Brownlee decided to move up to sixth grade where her love for teaching only grew. For example, her favorite part has been to build relationships with her students.
“I really do my best to let them know that whatever they are going through, what they look like, what kind of student they are, the choices they make – they are welcomed, loved and accepted in my classroom,” said Brownlee.
At home, the Brownlee family dynamic is about to shift a little as their youngest child is preparing to leave for college. Working alongside her husband Mark, Stephanie Brownlee is hopeful for this new season of life, as she finds more time to invest in what she loves – teaching, and performing at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Brownwood.