Three DCSD Teachers honored by L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program
By Carla Parker
Stone Mountain Elementary School fifth grade teacher Brian Bryant, DeKalb School of the Arts ballet mistress Anna Dunn and Kelley Lake Elementary School music teacher Alfred Miller, Jr. were recognized by the L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program.
L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program provide recognition to early career teachers. Launched in 2020, the program honors the legacy of L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown, who were lifelong educators who embarked on teaching careers after college. The goal of the program is to bring attention to the essential and valuable role that teachers hold in society.
Bryant has been with DeKalb County School District since 2019. He meets with African American male students at Stone Mountain Elementary throughout the year during lunch to build relationships, talk about academics and character development.
“My mentorship extended this year to include the arts,” Bryant said. “To give students the opportunity to perform in a chorus, I rebooted the school chorus at the school for fourth and fifth graders.”
Along with chorus, Bryant served as sponsor of the school’s Beta Club chapter.
Dunn has been with the district since 2006. She said dance does not have standardized testing like other subjects, however, she use students’ scores on standardized tests to see where she can support academic disciplines.
“Collaborating with the English/language arts teachers, I added a dance literacy component to my curriculum where students annotate and discuss articles from dance trade publications or scholarly journals,” Dunn said.
Miller has also been with the district since 2019. He has had the opportunity to the piano, keyboard, organ and drums in his community.
“As a servant of all, I am always ready to answer to the call to help others in any capacity,” Miller said. “A majority of my leadership and community involvement includes teaching/mentoring my students in class and lending a helping hand of listening ears to my colleagues and co-workers.”
L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown taught hundreds of students in the Muscogee County School District in Georgia, with most of their careers were spent at Kendrick High School. Marsh and Brown positively impacted the lives of others and were pillars of the community. The purpose of the memorial recognition program is to keep their spirit alive and recognize teachers 40 and under who embody similar qualities.