Kathy Brown

Hampton teacher leads students to 100 percent success on Gateway

By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com

   The fall of 2001 was the first semester county students were required to take the Gateway exam in biology. While county students were successful overall, Kathy Brown's biology class at Hampton High School was the only class to receive a 100 percent passing rate.
   Brown used a variety of teaching techniques to ensure her students' success on the exam. Students received checklists of material that would be on the exam. They placed a plus or minus next to areas signifying their understanding of the material, and Brown was able to concentrate on areas where students needed additional assistance.
   Brown did note although students were mindful of it all semester long, she did not teach solely for the Gateway exam. "My job is to teach the children rather than just to cover the material," Brown said. "I have to do whatever it takes to help students learn."
   Doing whatever it takes sometimes means acting a little unusual. Brown stated in order to spark thinking among her students she made them make and wear thinking caps. She added that she wore hers all day. "It was a combination of teaching, inspiring, and cajoling," Brown said.
   By the time test day arrived on December 12, 2001 Brown was confident that her students were prepared to be successful on the Gateway exam. She stated that students were excited to come to her and learn of their success.
   Brown has been a teacher at Hampton High School for 10 of her 13 years in education. She will marry Frank Wing, a biology teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School, in April of this year.