Vina grad 'still on cloud nine'

By Staff
Jason Cannon
Franklin County Times
Friday morning there was a 33 percent chance that Judy Brown's name would be called for the 2008 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) National Teacher of the Year, but there was at least one person who wasn't expecting it.
"I was a nervous wreck," the 1974 graduate of Vina High School said. "There are so many excellent and qualified teachers out there. I was just honored to be there."
Brown was one of three teachers up for the honor and was the one who got the call to come up on stage.
"I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I'm still on cloud nine. It's an honor and a privilege."
This is the fourth award bestowed to Brown in the last 12 months. Others include Alabama's Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year and Alabama's Outstanding Career/Technical Teacher of the Year and the Region II Teacher of the Year.
"You know, you look back on it and I just think 'wow,'" she said. "I still can't believe it."
As the ACTE's Teacher of the Year, Brown will become a spokesperson for career and technical education, which will include speaking engagements around the country and state.
"I was told Saturday by the NACTE that I would be addressing Congress in March about the importance of career and technical education funding. That put my knees to knocking a little," she said. "But I'll do all I can to promote the importance of career and technical education."
Judy is married to Robert Brown, a 1971 graduate of Vina High School and a former teacher and coach at the school. The Browns moved to Texas in 1981 when Robert joined the Air Force.
The couple has two children, Joseph and Ashley.
Judy is the daughter of Jack and the late Letha Hellums, of Vina. She is the daughter-in-law of Roger and the late Gloria Brown, also of Vina.