For half a century, Nannie Brown has remained a dedicated and passionate presence at Valley Pre-School. Her wisdom and experience influenced countless children, parents and teachers since she took on the role of lead teacher in 1975. Brown served in this role until 2011, when she “retired” from teaching, but she did not go far!
From 2011 to today, Brown has served as a boomerang teacher: VPS teachers who, despite retirement, come back on a part-time basis. Brown teaches natural science once a month to our 4’s class. The children love her lessons, which involve planting bulbs, potting spider plants and begonias, dissecting owl pellets, observing animal scat, listening to heartbeats and examining animal bones she has found hiking over the years! Boomerangs add a layer of tradition and history to this program that is invaluable. We thank all of our boomerang teachers—Nannie Brown, Peggy Shaw and Kathy Jackson—for their continuous support and dedication to our school.
Brown’s love of teaching is evidenced by the impact not only that she has had on her students, but that they’ve had, and continue to have, on her. In a letter from her husband, Daniel (Put) Brown shared that, “Again and again, in area grocery stores and other nearby places and even in far distant places where she never expects to see her former students, they turn up and remember their times together. Surprisingly, to me at least, she almost always remembers who they are and recognizes them even before they speak to her. ‘It’s their smiles,’ she explained to me. ‘Often I don’t recognize them until they smile, and then it all comes back to me.’”
Brown’s influence spans generations, and we are so thankful to her for her ongoing dedication to the families and teachers of Valley Pre-School. Those who know Nannie Brown know that a reverence for nature is a big part of who she is. There is a bench dedicated to Brown (from her husband) situated beautifully right before the summit of McLean Game Refuge, overlooking the serene woodlands with a view of the Heublein Tower. We encourage you to take a hike this spring and honor Brown by taking time to slow down and enjoy the natural world with your family.
Thank you again, and congratulations to Nannie Brown for 50 years of teaching at Valley Pre-School. We would not be who we are without you.
If you are a VPS alum, and would like to share, please send memories, images or notes for Nannie Brown to valleypreschoolkids@gmail.com