Asbury Educator of the Month: Tiffany Brown

As one of 16 grandchildren in a large extended family that includes 27 great-grandchildren, Ashland Elementary School teacher Tiffany Brown spent a childhood surrounded by cousins, nephews and nieces.

She started babysitting her younger relatives when she was 12 and has always had a soft spot for children. That’s probably why she lasted only one semester in college as a physical therapy major before switching to education. It was the right move.

Right after graduation, she landed a job at Ashland where she has worked for 16 years, the past 12 as a third-grade teacher.

“She dives deep into the lives of her kids and wants to be a mentor as well as an educator.”

“I love third grade because it’s a stepping stone for students,” she said. “It’s a big jump academically, a time when friendships become more important, and kids are developing personalities and interests.”

Third grade also is a time when students have transitioned from learning to read to reading to learn. Brown’s students enjoy reading biographies, everyone from Rosa Parks to Amelia Earhart.

“I love those rich conversations we have about what we’re reading,” Brown said.

Her reputation as a gifted educator is well known in the Ashland community, making her a sought-after teacher, according to Principal Shannon Blackburn.

“She is highly requested because she represents the whole package,” Blackburn said. “She dives deep into the lives of her kids and wants to be a mentor as well as an educator. Whatever she does, you know she is going to dedicate herself completely.”

Brown credits her colleagues for any success she’s had as a teacher.

“We work so closely together and the whole team wants what’s best for our kids,” she said. “That’s the true gift and reward in education – seeing children grow academically, socially and emotionally. It takes a village to make that happen.”

Part of the village has been Brown’s two daughters, Lorelei, who just entered SCAPA as a fourth grader specializing in drama after attending Ashland through third grade, and Stella, a first grader at Ashland.

Brown and her husband adopted Stella from Uganda when she was 2, spending six weeks in Africa finalizing the adoption.

“Adoption is something I always wanted to do,” Brown said. “I told my mother when I was 12 that I was going to adopt a child. I’ve always had a heart for adoption.”