WAKEENEY—Ernie Brown will be inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame this summer along with seven other members of the Class of 2024.
The class will be inducted at a luncheon in their honor, followed by the induction ceremony on Saturday, June 1 at the Dodge City Civic Center located at 2112 First Ave.
Brown began his teaching career in the fall of 1966 at Gorham Rural High School in Gorham, where he taught all of the science classes and assisted in coaching four sports until 1969.
After completing his Master of Natural Science degree at the University of South Dakota in 1970, he returned to Kansas to accept a teaching position at Trego Community High School in WaKeeney where he taught biology, advanced biology and anatomy and physiology until his retirement in 2005.
In addition, he taught “Methods of Teaching Biology #502” at Fort Hays State University to students who were prospective high school science teachers from 1988 to 1998.
Brown has received numerous awards, honors and recognitions during his 39-year teaching career. He has received the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Fellowship Award, the Kansas Master Teacher Award from Emporia State University, the University of Kansas Outstanding Teacher and Mentor Recognition Award, and the National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for the State of Kansas.
In 1977, the first state hall of fame for teachers was established in Dodge City.
Since its inception, more than 450 exemplary educators have been inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame. Each year, nominations are accepted from each of the 12 districts in Kansas.
The state selection committee meets in March to review the candidates and complete the selection process. The inductees must meet the highest of standards, including evidence of outstanding teaching, evidence of positive interactions with students and parents, qualities that set him/her apart from other educators, the continued pursuit of educational opportunities throughout their career, a willingness to share ideas by conducting workshops, classes, etc. for parents, teachers, and involvement in community activities: educational recognition and awards: and a philosophy of education that is a positive example for others.
Additionally, nominees must have been a K-12 teacher for a minimum of 25 years in Kansas.