Education
Three Manatee teachers among 2016 winners of Congressional Teacher Award
SARASOTA -- Christina Browner watched proudly as her husband, Lorenzo Browner, walked up to receive an award Friday evening from Rep. Vern Buchanan.
"It's amazing. For years, he's been teaching," the 38-year-old said with a wide smile on her face. "He makes such a huge impact on kids. It's like you go in the classroom, you see this big guy. ... but the way he teaches. ... he's
one-on-one with the kids. He really deserved it, so I'm so proud of him."
Despite Browner's looming stature, the 46-year-old teacher at Florine J. Abel Elementary School stood shyly in front of the crowd inside the Old Federal Building in Sarasota. Browner was one of six public school teachers chosen for the Congressional Teacher Awards begun three years ago by Buchanan.
The teachers from Manatee and Sarasota counties, chosen by an independent panel from 25 educators nominated by their principals for special recognition, received a certificate, an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a challenge coin.
Two other Manatee teachers -- Charlotte Latham from B.D. Gullett Elementary School in Bradenton and Stacie Cratty from Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto -- were also honored.
"After 18 years, to be recognized with this type of honor is a privilege," Browner told the Herald after the ceremony. "Because it's a privilege to teach."
Browner, who began working at Abel Elementary School in October, described his first couple days at the school as a bit rough. Since then, it's been a blessing, he said.
"It's like being a parent," Browner said about his role. "I look at each student as being my own and I treat them accordingly."
Latham was all smiles when she went up to receive her award for her accomplishments as a fifth-grade teacher.
"There are so many wonderful teachers in Manatee County so to be acknowledged is a nice honor," the 56 year old said. "We have wonderful teachers at our school as well, so that makes it very special that my administration, Dr. (Shirin) Gibson, put my name forward."
As a science teacher, Latham said she used Hot Wheels cars her now-grown son used to play with to good use in the classroom.
"We set up tracks, and we look at potential energy and kinetic energy and they love to roll the cars down and change the height of the ramp and see what happens," the teacher said with growing enthusiasm. "It's just more fun than reading it in a book."
Her students, Latham added, leave class with open eyes and minds going with questions. It's what makes science the best subject to teach, she said with a laugh.
The first in his family to go to college, Buchanan spoke about growing up in a blue-collar family and meeting a teacher who changed his perspective on education.
"Changed my thinking," he said. "It changed my life."
After the ceremony, Cratty stood with her supporters. The 41-year-old dance teacher said she felt a bit overwhelmed.
"I'm overwhelmed because I just do what I do everyday. ... I feel like a normal person," the Parrish resident said. "It's really an honor to get recognized in this way for just doing your job."
Cratty, who has been at Manatee School for the Arts five years now, said she began teaching at a dance studio when she was 15.
"I love being able to give to students what I feel like teachers gave to me," she said. "That kind of pay-it-forward attitude and perspective, because I had a lot of mentor teachers that were really special to me and really inspired me, so I love being able to pass that onto other children now and to the future generations."
Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.
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