Forty-eight years after leaving Nacogdoches High School, 10 members of the Class of 1976 still talk today of the impact of Claudette Brown, a longtime NHS government teacher whose career in education spanned more than 40 years at both Nacogdoches ISD and Stephen F. Austin State University.
The group – they call themselves The Ten Friends of the Class of 1976 – includes, Linda Alexander (Bedford), Cay Capel (McAninch), Dolores Durr (Basden), Charlotte Gibson (Ashcraft), Martha Muckleroy, Diana Mullen (Ball), Holly Musick, Lisa Pevey (Rodrigues), Donna Strode (Grigsby) and Terri Thornton.
When Brown died June 10 at age 86, the former students wanted to do something to honor their teacher’s influence, not only on their group, but the hundreds of others whose lives over the years were transformed by Brown’s work.
Their decision? Making a contribution that was sure to please Brown… a donation to the Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation – in her honor, of course.
“I’m both honored and grateful that these friends and former students of Claudette Brown decided to honor her memory with a generous donation to NEF,” said Erin Windham, the foundation’s executive director. “Ms. Brown had such an oversized influence on hundreds of students’ lives over the years, something that is at the heart of what our foundation is all about… helping Nacogdoches ISD teachers in their classrooms.”
Money raised by the Foundation funds a number of initiatives within the district, such as grants to teachers and staff that pay for innovative projects that benefit NISD students. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions are tax deductible.
Here’s what The Ten Friends of the Class of 1976 had to say about Claudette Brown:
“MRS. BROWN inspired all of us. She was a supporter of our student government, a mentor and a friend. She was fun, energetic and encouraging – just what every high school student needs in a teacher.”
“SHE MADE a point to follow us. All of us. Our Class of 1976 was special. We bonded with each other. And with Mrs. Brown, who we called Claudette in later years.”
“SHE WANTED to know what we were doing, were we happy, were we contributing to our community, and were we reaching the potential she believed we could achieve. Claudette’s continued interest in us as young adults was reassuring and energizing! And she never let up as we grew up, had careers, married, had children, and lived our lives. She was always there rooting for us.”
“CLAUDETTE BROWN was an influencer before that was a thing. We Ten Friends of the Class of 1976 have so many fond memories of her shaping us and guiding us in how to think about our world – not just Nacogdoches, or Texas, or the United States, but the world beyond.”
“WE REMEMBER going to her home to sing Christmas carols and collect canned foods. We remember Mrs. Brown backed our idea to have a NHS Homecoming Parade through our historic red brick streets and when we wanted to have the first ever senior picnic at Pecan Acres Park, she was all for it.”
“WE KNOW that until the day she died, Claudette had a special place in her heart for all of her former students. We feel so lucky to have known and grown from her.”