By Max Davis
March 17, 2026
The Paducah Sun
Reprinted with permission.
Avery Brown wants to help guide the next generation by becoming an elementary school teacher.
Brown, this week’s Murray State Teen of the Week, is a senior at Paducah Tilghman High School and has enjoyed teaching since she was in the eighth grade.
“I started teaching dance classes in my eighth-grade year, and helping out with the little ones just made me fall in love with helping kids and inspiring them,” Brown said. “I love how they are just ready to learn and want to learn, instead of teenagers who are really hard to teach. I started by teaching little kids in dance class and helping them have the basics to express themselves and dance.”
Brown is not interested in any particular subject, but said she specifically wants to pursue elementary school teaching. She started learning by co-oping at Clark Elementary and took a big interest in a second-grade class.
“In February last year, I met with the Clark Elementary principal and asked her if I can co-op there,” Brown explained. “It’s not normal for kids to co-op that far, but she made a way for me to. She’s planned out a pathway for me to go through all the grades throughout the year, and I’ve been through all of them except kindergarten. I’ve been helping out with Ms. Leneave’s class since November, and I just don’t want to leave.”
Brown said that she is influenced by some of her elementary school teachers, like Ms. Mohs, and hopes to help guide those in elementary school through school.
“I want to guide them because elementary school teaches them basics before they go out into middle school, into high school to grow up to be an adult,” Brown pointed out. “It’s the basics of math, reading and science, and I want to be the role model to guide them through that.”
Brown will be attending Murray State University in the fall to earn a degree in education. She hopes to return to Clark Elementary once she is qualified to teach.