LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Carolyn Brown was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Brown greets students with a personal hello each period. She asks a few of them questions each day as they arrive, such as "How was your soccer game, or, "What did you do on the weekend?" She organizes regular, small interactions such as quick "walk arounds" to see each student's artwork, sticky note compliments they give each other on work progress or idea development, and shared group questions about technique or art examples, all to foster safe interactions and "team building" that lead to better in-class relationships and trust among students who didn't know each other before.

Ms. Brown focuses on positive growth, productive risk-taking, and reflection, so that any "mistakes" can turn into learning. She has mixed-grade, mixed-level groups, so she works to get students to value both the processes of learning and the "product" or final pieces.

Career Accomplishments:

• 2016 - Maine Art Educator of the Year
• 2015 - Maine Outstanding Art Educator
• 2014-17 - Conference Chair, Maine Art Education Association Fall Conference at Haystack