ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Jessica Brown is known as the singing teacher at Orangeburg Christian Academy (OCA).
Brown has been singing with her third graders at OCA for 17 years.
"When we spell, it's just so much easier ... We chunk things up. We do it in a rhythm. We do our multiplication in rhythm," Brown said.
Students like Summer and Harper love to hear Mrs. Brown singing in class.
"Miss Jessica is such a great teacher and the fact that she sings everything. I love to sing. And it makes me comfortable in this classroom whenever she like sings," student Harper said.
"She helps us out. She's kind. She's sweet. She's loving. I think of her as an aunt because she's like my adopted aunt," said student Summer.
"God's blessed me greatly through OCA. It really has. I've met a lot of connections, a lot of great kids, a lot of great families and they're very supportive," Brown. said.
Born in Orangeburg, Brown went to Garden City Christian Academy with Cynthia Poor as principal. Years later, her former principal is her new boss.
"I call Ms. Poor up in 2007 and I asked her for a job. She put me in third grade. And I've met my husband through the school. We have four daughters. Three of them go here," says Brown.
"I have known her since she was four years old. And she was a student of mine. So, I know her personally and then I know her professionally. And she is a gift to the school. She says that I'm her second mother and I consider that a privilege for her to say that and to think of me in that way," Poor said.
"She's just so sweet. And she always has a smile on her face, even if she's really sleepy," Summer said.
And her busy schedule as a mom and teacher doesn't stop her from family time.
"I'm happy here and this is for me kind of like being a stay-at-home mom. I'm here with my children, we commute together, we're all together. So, it gives me a lot of family time," Brown said.
"Having her on staff, it makes me think, 'Well, I've done something right,'" Poor said.
If you know a teacher like Jessica Brown who deserves to be recognized for their hard work in the classroom you can nominate them by emailing us at TOW@WLTX.COM. Tell us what that educator is doing every day to go above and beyond in the classroom.