Debra Brown
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Author: Biography Supplied by Coordinator
Released 30 May 2004
Debra Brown
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
As history teachers, we sometimes bombard our students with the vocabulary and information we think they need to understand the past and prepare for the future, but, in my 25 years of teaching, I have found that a different technique can be far more successful. I take a hands-on approach to teaching history, stressing the use of primary sources and cultural artifacts as a way to promote understanding and make history relevant.
I have two loves—seeing my students succeed, and obtaining new information about the world to share with them.
I currently teach World Area Studies, US History, Advanced Social Science Problems and Multimedia Production. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to several other countries, and, without fail, find students more receptive to new cultures when I talk about my own experiences—I have an added credibility. I like to think that my openness to learn gives me added insights I can share with my students and encourages them to think globally, cooperatively, and critically.
I have participated in other teacher travel groups like this and have found them to be very rewarding, both personally and professionally. I have information and artifacts that I collected in Japan, Australia, Russia, Turkey and Greece that I share with my students. I am sure that this trip to Saudi Arabia will be just as worthwhile. I’ve done numerous staff development sessions at the local, state and national levels, sharing my experiences and insights with other teachers. Over the years, I have been recognized by several organizations.
In 1993, I was named national history teacher of the year by the History Channel and the National History Day Foundation. To be considered at the national level, I had been named state history teacher of the year by the Texas State Historical Association. I was also named State Secondary Social Studies Teacher in 1994 by history teachers across the state.
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