Brooke Brown brings an educator’s voice to State Board of Education 

Brooke Brown, 2020-21 Washington Teacher of the Year, says she's excited to be joining the State Board of Education.

"I think the biggest thing I'm interested in doing is bringing the teachers' perspective to the forefront of the conversations and to really represent the teachers and students," she says.

On Jan. 13, the Washington State Board of Education announced that it would be joined by Brown, Dr. Angela Griffin and Dr. Dana Riley Black.

"We are thankful for these appointments. We have three very intelligent and experienced women joining our table. We are excited to hear their insight and diversity of experiences," said State Board Chair Bill Kallappa II.

Brown teaches English and ethnic studies at Washington High School in Parkland and serves on the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) Ethnic Advisory Committee.

She was on a six-month sabbatical as Teacher of the Year last year and hopes to use her experiences in her board role. "I learned a lot about how our educational system works. How the sausage gets made. A lot of things that I was unaware about."

Brown also had the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress, and wants to do what she can to make educators' voices heard. "The more we can connect educators on the ground with policymakers, the more we can make a just and joyous future of all students," she says.

She and her husband have 4 children, ages 18, 14, 9 and 17 months, and she’s just started working on her Ph.D.

How does she find any "spare" time for extracurricular work?

"I have an excellent partner," she says. "My advice is to marry your best friend. He challenges me and pushes me and believes in my dreams."