The Brownwood High School Rising Star Teacher for the 2024-25 school year, Simone Morris is just three years into her career. Her first was spent at Early ISD, and last year brought her to Brownwood, where she is preparing for her second year teaching History within the district, and will add Student Council advisor to her list of responsibilities.
“I became a teacher because I love history and learning and I wanted to share that love and passion with others,” Morris said. “I teach US History and AP US History and I know history can be boring for some because hello, it is the past and we are looking forward to the future, but to me, it is the key to understanding the world around us. If I can help even one student see it in a new light or spark a little curiosity, then I have done something meaningful.”
Regarding the development of her passion for teaching history, Morris said. “I love teaching US History because it helps students connect the past to what is happening in the world today. There’s nothing better than when a student walks into class excited because they made a real-world connection – something they saw or read that ties back to what we’ve been discussing. Those moments show them that history isn’t just the past, it is shaping the present, too.”
Morris is a 2013 Brownwood High School graduate and also earned a degree from Howard Payne University in 2023.
Reflecting on her days as a student, Morris said, “My middle school librarian, Martha Magee, was a huge inspiration to me. She was the reason I fell in love with reading, a love I still have today. She was such a positive influence on me – she truly cared for every student that walked through the doors of her library. Being a teenager is hard and it was like she knew exactly what we needed and it always came in the form of a good book. What she did for me is exactly what I try to do for my students – make their lives a little easier by showing up with positivity, creativity and a safe space.
“Also, Dr. Mangrum at HPU. He was my history professor and really helped me find my passion in history. I have to give all the credit to him and his wife, Cheryl. They really encouraged me and stayed on me about going back to school. They both gave me the confidence I needed to take on returning to college as a mom. He is still pushing me today to continue my education. I promise I will soon, Dr. Mangrum.”
As for the most rewarding part of teaching, Morris said, “Definitely the relationships I build with my students. There is something truly special about it – they stop being just students and start feeling like my own kids. Watching them grow, struggle, succeed, and figure out who they are – it is a privilege to be a part of that journey. And it is pretty fun to see their faces when I get super excited about something we are discussing in class and they say I just lost ‘aura points.’”
Looking ahead in her teaching career, Morris said, “What really excites me about the future of teaching is education becoming more relevant and seeing students take more ownership of their learning. They are becoming more curious, asking big questions, and challenging the world around them. Being a part of that growth is incredibly energizing and feels like a powerful responsibility and privilege.”
Simone and her husband Cade have two children, 11-year-old Elliott and 7-year-old Marlee.
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BrownwoodNews.com will highlight one Brown County educator per day in the month of July, based on nominations received on our Facebook page, for our Teacher Feature series.