ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Tristan Browne, an Antiguan and Barbudan student currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, is a recipient of this year’s West Teaching Excellence Awards. The prestigious award is bestowed on the 20 best teachers in the public school system of Wichita Falls, Texas – a midsize city situated 138 miles northwest of Dallas.
The 20 winning teachers were culled from the Wichita Falls Independent School District’s (WFISD) 1,000 teachers at 29 campuses, with nominations submitted by their campus principals. The award comes with US $5,000 for each winner.
The West Award is especially coveted because the West Foundation selects teachers without limiting itself to nominees from specific schools, grades or subjects. The West Foundation chooses recipients who show high moral character, a positive attitude, enthusiasm, poise and dedication to the craft of teaching. The foundation also values teachers who continue learning and improving.
Browne, who was raised in Piccadilly, credits his success to the strong educational foundation received in the Antiguan school system. He is a past student of the Cobbs Cross School, Antigua Grammar School and Antigua State College’s A-Level Department.
Browne has been teaching special education inclusion math at Alamo Elementary for two years. His principal, Laura Scott, believes he was a key reason why 90 per cent of the school’s sixth graders passed math – the highest in the district. She also credits him with helping 97 per cent of its fifth graders pass math – the second highest pass rate in the district.
The Antiguan teacher has been recognised for establishing meaningful bonds with his students.
“It is important to build relationships or connections with your students,” Browne said. “Once you know your students, you are able to make connections with their prior knowledge to what you are teaching them. Students need to see and know that you care about them and that you want them to succeed. When they realise that you genuinely care about them, it develops trust and once you have earned that student’s trust, it makes teaching so much easier.”
Browne has a degree in Psychology and teacher’s certification from Midwestern State University. He is now teaching at Scotland Park Elementary where he continues to build bonds with the students and where he implements the school’s special education programmes.
