A Laurens County School District 55 educator is one of twelve teachers from across the country who will join the inaugural class for the NIET Fellows Program. The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching is among the largest trainers of teacher leaders, with more than 35,000 teacher leaders trained to date. The new NIET Fellows Program selects teacher leaders for a dynamic one-year program to deepen their knowledge of instructional best practices and more effectively support the work taking place within and beyond their school and district. Among the twelve distinguished fellows is Kelsey Brown from Hickory Tavern Elementary and Middle School. She’ll receive a $10,000 stipend.
NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett said, “As a national leader in developing teacher leadership roles, NIET is thrilled to welcome Kelsey Brown from Laurens County School District 55 in South Carolina as a member of the NIET Fellows Program,” He added, “We identified 12 exemplary educators from nearly 250 applicants across the nation. This fellowship will provide these talented teacher leaders with unparalleled opportunities to enhance their instructional practices and impact student outcomes in their district.”
Kelsey Brown began her career in education in 2012 and has primarily taught 2nd and 3rd grades. She is starting her first year at Hickory Tavern Elementary and Middle School as a Master Teacher this year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Winthrop University, her Master in Education Teaching from the University of South Carolina, and her principal certificate from Lamar University. Brown maintains a professional goal to motivate teachers, improve academic performance, increase parent engagement, and build rapport with students and faculty in order to improve overall school performance.
District 55 Superintendent Dr. Jody Penland said, “We are thrilled to see Kelsey recognized as a member of this year’s NIET Fellows Program,. In her role as an instructional and reading coach, she has shown a true commitment to supporting other teachers entering the profession and a passion for collaborating with her fellow educators. We look forward to seeing how this program will further refine her instructional skills, positively impacting our students and staff as we build a five-star culture of excellence here in Laurens 55.”
