MCPS finalist for statewide Teacher of the Year awarded $20,000 from governor

Jennifer Brown, center, poses with her Golden Apple award with students in her 9th grade AVID class at Forest High School in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Brown teaches Geometry and AVID at Forest and was recently named the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Marion County’s own finalist for the statewide Teacher of the Year competition was awarded $20,000 on Tuesday from Gov. Ron DeSantis, just days ahead of the gala where one Florida teacher will be chosen as the winner.

Jennifer Brown, a mathematics teacher from Forest High School, is one of five finalists for the statewide Teacher of the Year competition after taking home the award at the Marion County level.

Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded each of the five finalists a $20,000 check.

On July 25, the winner of Florida’s Teacher of the Year will be named at a gala. The winner will receive additional awards and take home a total of $50,000.

Brown teaches the subjects of geometry and trigonometry. A product of Marion County Public Schools herself, said she’s always wanted to teach and impact students’ lives the same way her teachers impacted hers. Brown began her teaching career in 1996 at her alma mater, Wyomina Park Elementary School.

“I just love learning,” Brown said. “My whole life, I’ve had great teachers who have always inspired me.”

She credits the many great teachers who taught her for inspiring her to choose teaching as a career.

“Being around other like-minded people who love their careers and love teaching and made me love teaching and want to provide that for students,” she said.

Brown’s geometry classes take mathematics off the page and into the hands of her students, who often do collaborative activities to communicate, work together and solve problems. Brown has been teaching for 21 years and taught in the Marion County school district for the last nine years.