Ms. Brown is a gift and a treasure. Not only does she teach the gifted minds in her classroom, she also invests her time in coaching them as well. She is the advisor for Ladies of Distinction which helps young ladies in the 4th and 5th grades to understand that each of them are unique, beautiful and strong. Beyond her classroom and Ladies of Distinction, Ms. Brown can be seen supporting her students’ extracurricular activities like gymnastics and theatre. My daughter, Dylan, has been forever changed because of all of the time Ms. Brown has invested in her. She teaches Dylan to be confident in the classroom and in herself through the Ladies of Distinction activities. She surprised Dylan by showing up to her gymnastics meet after school. Dylan won first place and immediately after winning, she ran right past her parents and straight into Ms. Brown’s arms. I already felt that Ms. Brown was awesome before that but seeing how happy my daughter was to share her accomplishment with her teacher validated what I felt. Dylan is not an anomaly. Dylan and I supported a classmate who performed in a play on a Saturday afternoon at a local theatre. Right in front of us sat Ms. Brown. The way that she shows up for her students makes it easy for me to trust that my daughter is not just taught, but also cared for while she is with Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown has also taken the time to help my daughter prepare for 6th grade. She spent time before and after school helping Dylan understand what her potential 6th grade teachers might expect when she interviews for placement. Ms. Brown is not just helping Dylan succeed in her classroom, she is helping Dylan to succeed in 6th grade and beyond. Every grade in every school should have someone just like LaKeya Brown. Every child should come home with stories to share about their teacher that gives the parents comfort that their child is learning and being cared for. Every parent should be able to smile at the thought of their child’s teacher. I certainly do.