Great teachers do more than teach content. They help students find their voice, tell their story, and believe that what they have to say matters.
Ms. Isha Brown does that every single day.
Carthage ISD is proud to recognize Ms. Brown as the Carthage Junior High Teacher of the Year, honoring an educator who is making a powerful impact in the classroom and in the lives of her students.
Now in her third year at Carthage Junior High, Ms. Brown serves as an 8th grade English Language Arts teacher, where she is doing far more than preparing students for the next test or assignment. She is helping them become thinkers, communicators, and confident young people who understand the power of words.
In her classroom, reading is not just about comprehension. It is about connection. Writing is not just about structure. It is about expression. Students are challenged to think deeply, speak clearly, and engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.
That kind of teaching sticks.
Before joining the junior high, Ms. Brown served as the Communities In Schools Coordinator at Baker-Koonce Elementary. That experience gave her a unique perspective that continues to shape her approach today. She understands that every student walks into her classroom with a different story, and she meets them with patience, purpose, and high expectations.
In her eight years with Carthage ISD, she has built a reputation for being steady, intentional, and deeply invested in her students’ success. She creates a classroom where students feel safe to try, to grow, and to find their confidence both academically and personally.
As an ELA teacher, her impact reaches beyond grammar and essays. She is helping students learn how to communicate, how to advocate for themselves, and how to navigate a world that requires both critical thinking and strong character.
That is the power of literacy.
That is the power of a great teacher.
Carthage Junior High is a place where high expectations meet strong relationships, and Ms. Brown reflects that in everything she does. She brings structure to her instruction, purpose to her lessons, and care to every interaction with her students.
When we asked CJH principal Wade Watson about Ms. Brown he said, "Ms. Brown does a great job of connecting with her students and pushing them to think. In her classroom, kids are expected to read, write, and communicate at a high level, and she supports them every step of the way. We’re proud of the work she’s doing here at the junior high."
Her impact is seen in the growth of her students, in the confidence they carry, and in the way they leave her classroom better prepared for what comes next.
That is the power of public education.
And that is the difference one teacher can make.
Carthage ISD is proud to celebrate Ms. Isha Brown as Carthage Junior High Teacher of the Year and grateful for the role she plays in shaping the future, one student and one story at a time.