Brown’s commitment was recognized when she was selected Region 1 Art Educator of the Year for 2022 by the New York State Art Teachers Association — a prestigious honor for which she was nominated by her colleagues. Fellow members from Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties feted her at a joyous event in Hamburg in July, where she donned a traditional flower crown and celebrated with fellow NYSATA members.

“Jenny is one of our most respected and longest-serving educators at the high school,” Principal Scott Cooper said. “She prioritizes expanding her own skills, sharing her expertise and inspiring her students and colleagues alike. It has been wonderfully satisfying as an administrator to watch Jenny continue to pursue her lifelong passion for art and teaching.”

Brown said she loves attending the NYSATA annual summer conference in the Adirondacks and says the camaraderie and creativity of the group are instrumental to her success.

“Everyone has a story about a teacher who influenced them,” NYSATA President Michelle Schroeder said. “My guess is that Jenny Brown has more than a few who could say she is a game-changer.”

Brown, right, stands with students who participated in the 2022 Women’s Empowerment Draft.

“I’m really honored — NYSATA rejuvenated my love of art and teaching,” Brown said.

At Southwestern High, Brown teaches studio art, intro to drawing/painting, advanced drawing/painting, creative arts, ceramics/sculpture and AP art — and enrollment is always at maximum capacity. She builds connections with students and encourages them to express themselves while promoting their creative expression.

Brown has a reputation for taking full advantage of any opportunity to learn new things and make new connections. One fairly recent skill she honed is macrame, a craft with a long history, which has been a hit with students.

“The kids loved it,” she says, noting that several students took their carefully designed pieces home to display.

She is also chair of the district Art Department, which comprises fellow teachers Amanda Laurin, Tina Clark, and Renee Mitchener, who has worked closely with Brown since 2008, collaborating on multiple projects and events.

“Jenny has always treated the teachers within her department as equals, looking for input and helping to solve any challenge that presents itself, as if it mattered just as much to her,” Mitchener said.

Another career bright spot was the 2022 Women’s Empowerment Draft to recognize 31 influential women during Women’s History Month in March 2022. Brown and more than two dozen Trojans – art students and Allies for Diversity Club members – worked to honor the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender American activist, and promote women’s advocacy. Their shared art piece is now on permanent display on campus.

“We love seeing our students joyfully engage in creative collaborations as a way to open conversations about serious subjects and issues,” said Superintendent Maureen Donahue, noting that the Empowerment Draft aligns with the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. “Jenny has been instrumental in facilitating this progress.”

In her spare time, Brown enjoys spending time with her husband, Adam, also a SWCS teacher, and their daughter, Joslyn, a junior. In 2020, she began teaching painting at Jamestown Community College and has no plan to push pause on expanding her creativity. Lately, she’s been toying with the idea of exploring resin pouring, which has many artistic uses including jewelry-making.

“Becoming a better artist is a learned skill and dedication is the key,” Brown said. “Art engages higher learning skills and is therapy for your soul.”