Lakeisha Brown has overcome many obstacles in life. This year, she was recognized as the D.C. Public Schools Teacher of the Year.”A girl from a small town who had a really rough upbringing could possibly win too. I didn’t count myself out,” Brown said. “It’s a moment that I will never forget.”Brown has been teaching at Lafayette Elementary School in Northwest D.C. for the last four years.Getting to this point wasn’t always easy for Brown.

“I told myself I want to be a teacher that counts every child, who thinks that everyone can make it,” Brown said.

That became her mindset after experiencing firsthand what it’s like to be judged by her own teachers when she was growing up. “They counted me out,” Brown said. “They didn’t put a lot of focus on African Americans, and that we could go to college or push us to take AP classes.”But it wasn’t just that.

“I grew up in a household where my mom was dying of AIDS,” she said. “People who were your friends were no longer allowed to be your friends and we became that family. I was teased, and I was bullied, and I struggled.”

She was taking care of her dying mother at age 9 and felt like an outsider at school.”Being up the night before and taking care of a sick parent. My teachers were always mad that I was late. They didn’t take the time to give me a moment,” Brown said. “My number one goal is my kids know before we even start our day that they can get a hug first. If they are late, I’m not going to rush them in. I’m going to embrace them because you never know what happened before they got there.”

It’s because of that, she decided to use these moments to create a welcoming classroom.Her style of teaching, however, is anything but traditional.”My students do the teaching rather than me doing it. You will see them leading the classroom, asking questions to each other,” Brown says. “Some of the children who are shy and reserved don’t have their voices heard. So I started selecting them just to make sure that they are also coming out of their shell as well.”When school begins, it’s easy to see just how much her young students love her.”Good morning Miss Brown,” one student says.

“Miss Brown, I lost my tooth this morning!” says another.Inside Brown’s candy-land themed classroom, students anxiously run to the carpet where they begin their morning meeting.The class includes a weather report from students, reading and even dancing. Brown puts on music and her students expel energy.”I allow the classroom to flow in the eyes of my student and now in my adult eyes,” she said. “They have so much energy and talent.”Her students, in turn, also enjoy school with their teacher.

“I like coming in to see Ms. Brown,” said Emily, one of her students. “She lets us have fun, but she keeps us getting our brains smarter.”