Jamelle Brown

Teacher

Year Honored: 2007

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
Kansas City, KS

At the time of the Award, Jamelle Brown was:

Teacher
Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
Kansas City, KS

Subject(s) taught: Speech Communication
Grade(s): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Biographical Information

Forensics teacher Jamelle Brown teaches students how to speak, compete and succeed at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science in Kansas City. Her high standards, outstanding instruction and leadership as a forensics teacher and coach has not only led to consistently high performance at local, state and national speech competitions, but has also fueled students' interest and improved their academic achievement in a variety of other subjects. In 2005-06, the Forensics Team won third place at the State Championship Tournament, with over 20 state qualifiers on the team, several of whom went on to national competition. In addition to teaching forensics, Brown teaches a class in Professional Life Skills, in which students develop resumes and a college planning portfolio and participate in mock job interviews conducted by Brown and her fellow teachers. She is also founder and sponsor of the academy's African- American Student Association, through which she spends many hours with students planning meetings and activities. Brown is a member of the National Forensics League, serves as the academy's deputy debate coach and is active in the district forensics committee.

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