Jessica Brown
SANFORD - Jessica Brown, science instructor at Central Carolina Community College, has been selected by the North Carolina Community College System as one of five finalists for its 2008 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Each of the fifty-eight community colleges in the state selected an Instructor of the Year. From these, the NCCCS selected 10 semi-finalists for the state award, then reduced that to five finalists through interviews. The winner will be announced at the System's Day of Recognition Program on Nov. 21 in Raleigh.
"I am overwhelmed, very excited," Brown, a Bear Creek resident, said of her selection. "This is a huge honor and I consider it an honor to be an ambassador for the college."
In notifying Brown of her selection, Carol Bowers, of the NCCCS said, "You are among a select group of instructors who represent the best teachers employed in the North Carolina Community College System. Your accomplishments represent the System well."
Brown teaches biology - both seated and distance education classes, anatomy, physiology and forensic science at Central Carolina C.C.
"It is a rare gift for a teacher to be able to reach each student in the class through her teaching methods, but Mrs. Brown has this gift," said student Laura McLamb. "'Prepared' and 'passionate' are two adjectives that describe her. She is a phenomenal teacher and person, the portrait of what teachers should be."
Brown was involved in the college's obtaining NCCCS approval to offer latent evidence courses. She helped develop distance-learning courses in biology and anatomy/physiology for the NCCCS. On-campus, in addition to her teaching, she helps manage, assist and advise adjunct instructors.
Brown received her bachelor's degree in animal science in 1997 from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science in Animal Physiology from Clemson University in 1999. In 2008, she earned a Master of Science in Forensic Science from the University of Florida.
In addition to being Central Carolina C.C.'s Instructor of the Year in 2008, Brown was in Who's Who Among American Teachers in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Other finalists for the NCCCS 2008 Excellence in Teaching Award are Tim Haley, professor of music, Sandhills C.C.; Katherine Allen, Special Education/Early Childhood instructor, Blue Ridge C.C.; Cathy Cook, Communications instructor, Rowan Cabarrus C.C.; and Maria Orsini, Associate Degree Nursing instructor, Vance-Granville C.C.
Jessica Brown