So many of my students remain forever etched in my brain. However, when you teach in a small town like ours, often a whole family becomes etched forever in your heart. One of those families is the Brownings.
Shawn was the first Browning child to enter my classroom and my life. He was such a typical seventh grade boy. Bright. Inquisitive. Totally disorganized. His backpack was a handicap for him as he could spend half of the class period frantically trying to locate one homework assignment in an ocean of folded, crumpled, and stuffed papers. Back in those days, I was a bit of a drama queen. I do not remember exactly what led up to it, but one day I threw his backpack out of my room and down the hall. Every sixth grade teacher on the hallway peeked out of their door to see what was loudly bouncing down the hall. Every sixth grade teacher chuckled to themselves when they saw which curly-haired little boy was following the exploding book bag down the hallway. Poor Shawn. Shawn may have been a mess, but he was one smart mess. I loved the questions he asked. They were thoughtful and reflective, and I couldn't always answer them. I learned to be careful answering his questions because if I was wrong, I heard about it the next day. "Ms. S, my father says you're wrong." Yes, Shawn actually discussed what he was learning at home. I was flattered, and sometimes flustered. I met Bev, Shawn's mom, when she visited during American Education Week. It's not easy to be a teacher and have a row of stern-faced adults crowded in the back of the room silently critiquing your every move. My eyes would focus on Bev because she grinned and laughed and seemed to enjoy being a part of class as much as Shawn did. I grew to look forward to her school visits, as there were many of them. Three more Brownings came through the middle school before I left.
Jenny was Shawn's little sister. She was a serious little gal, determined to do her best. Like Shawn, she was inquisitive and bright, but I don't think I ever had to throw her bookbag down the hall. Jenny was one of my oratorical students. This quiet and shy girl wrote a speech and delivered it not only to her classmates but in a showcase display of public speakers from the area's middle schools. I was so proud of her. She was a wonderful student, and even though everybody else thought I was a mean old witch, she knew I was ok. Shawn had told her so. Jenny and Shawn visited me frequently over the years. When they graduated, I received announcements and pictures. I loved those kids. Jenny is gone now, a brain aneurism took her life the August after her high school graduation. Shawn called me to personally deliver the tragic news. Those were dark, dark days. Jenny, in her own way, continued to visit me in my classroom. When I returned to work, there in my mailbox was a thank you note for a graduation present. I would pass out textbooks, and I'd see her signature in the books she'd once used. One day when I was going through a collection of unmarked video tapes, I found a recording of Jenny giving her speech. What a great gift to share with her family!
The third daughter was Liz. I wouldn't have immediately identified her as a Browning. Both Shawn and Jenny had curly dark brown hair. Liz was a natural blond. I'm not sure if I remember seventh grade Liz as well as I remember her class. They were bright kids, but a bunch of them were hoodlums in the making. Liz always seemed so much more mature than the rest. She would shake her head and we'd both roll our eyes over some of their shenanigans. Liz was a beautiful and expressive writer. Some of you may know her as she is married to the former Patch editor, also my former student, Sean Welsh. I was invited to their wedding and the outdoor reception. I never saw so much rain in my life!!! Looking at the pictures I took, there was nothing but smiles in celebration of their big day. That rain could have turned a saint into a bridezilla. But not Liz, and not Sean. They were joyful the whole day. The wedding was a beautiful celebration, even if little sister Meg had to wear a coat over her bridesmaid dress.
Meg was the baby Browning. Literally. When Bev was expecting, I got daily reports on the baby's progress. I sent Shawn and Jenny home with name suggestions for her. Don't worry Meg. Your parents never even considered Barbara. Meg has it all, brains, beauty, and a free spirit. She is a clothing and jewelry designer. Look for her label one of these days.
My teaching days were blessed with awesome and memorable students. What a bonus for me that I became friends with the Brownings as I was blessed to teach all four of their delightful children. Lucky me to have taught in a school small enough and intimate enough that students could become like family to me. There's no Common Core standard that encourages personal relationships, that encourages the creative teaching that endeared me to the Brownings. What a shame.
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