At Stillwater High School, Coach Drue Brown has built a reputation for turning one of the most challenging subjects into something students can understand and enjoy, a quality that recently earned him SHS Teacher of the Year.
Assistant Principal Carl Treat said Brown’s Teacher of the Year honor is a result of his leadership, teaching experience, and commitment to supporting students both inside and outside the classroom.
“Math is not for everybody, but he does a good job making it for everyone,” said Treat, who added that Brown’s experience teaching at both the middle school and high school levels has helped him develop a flexible approach in the classroom. “That experience allows him to better understand students’ needs and build strong relationships with them.”
After more than a decade in the classroom, being named Teacher of the Year is a meaningful milestone for Brown.
“To be recognized by my peers, especially with so many deserving teachers, means quite a bit,” he said. “This kind of motivation helps push you forward.”
For Brown, teaching was influenced early in life.
“Both of my parents are teachers,” he said. “That was already my inspiration, and I decided to change my major in college to become a teacher.”
Now in his 11th year of teaching, Brown focuses on preparing students for life beyond high school. One of the lessons he is most proud of is a financial literacy project where students create and manage a monthly budget.
“It helped show them what life is about outside of high school,” he said.
Brown also understands that every classroom comes with different challenges, especially when students learn in different ways.
“I don’t come in with rigid expectations thinking everything is going to be the same all the time,” he said.
Junior AlHarith Shaheen, a previous student in Brown’s math class and volleyball club team, f a time when the class was struggling with a lesson, but Brown adjusted his approach to make sure everyone could follow along.
“When we were all confused, he taught it in a way that everyone could understand,” Shaheen said. “He pushes us to keep going, even when we don’t feel confident.”
Brown is not only known for his teaching but also for his involvement in athletics and his ability to connect with students. Assistant Principal Mr. Treat said he has watched Brown grow over the years especially through coaching and mentoring roles.
“It comes down to his positive outlook and the impact he has on the staff and students,” Treat said. “He does an amazing job every day in the classroom.”
