Learning: DisneyHand Teacher Awards: The 2004 Honorees
Brian Freeman
Elementary: Primary - Second Grade

Brian Freeman
Peterson Elementary School
Red Springs, NC

"Are you ready for a G-rated kid's action adventure? Then get ready to learn about the School Daddy's classroom and you'll see what makes this classroom practice and environment innovative and unique."

-- Brian

"The main reason Mr. Freeman is so successful is because he sets high expectations for all his students regardless of their abilities. He is successful at motivating & inspiring students and their families to achieve greatness."

-- Penny Gibson, Principal

Brian's teaching is shaped by the background and experiences of his multi-cultured and diverse rural North Carolina students. Brian sets high expectations for all students and when you step into this magical second grade classroom hold on to your book sack because it will be an action adventure made just for kids. Brian does whatever it takes to make sure his students are inspired to learn even if that means using dance steps to teach spelling words or dressing up as wacky characters to teach a math lesson. His classroom is captivating, bright, colorful, and inviting - filled with pillows, curtains, rugs, plants, games, learning centers and a clothesline of his students' art. Brian makes school magical and comfortable for all students.

Other Highlights:

  • Nicknamed the School Daddy by his students
  • Former President, Vice-President and Treasurer of his local teacher association
  • Serving a four year term as a Red Springs Town Commissioner
  • Nationally-known motivational speaker and staff development presenter
  • Former PTA Vice-President/Fundraising Chair and helped to raise $38,000 for the school's playground restoration project
  • National Board certification
  • 2003 NEA Foundation-Horace Mann Teaching Excellence Award recipient representing the 2.7 million members of the NEA. Used a portion of his prize earnings established a teacher education scholarship at his alma mater, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
  • SDE's National Second Grade Teacher of the Year after creating a unique learning project, "Celebrity adventures with Flat Stanley". This project inspired his 25 students to read almost 7,000 Accelerated Reading books. His students became pen pals with over two dozen celebrities.
  • Brian's innovative teaching captured the attention of the First Lady of North Carolina, Mary Easley, who visited his class and read to his students. His class created a community quilt that represented their hometown, county and state and presented it to the First Lady. In return, she loaned it to the North Carolina Museum of History for all North Carolina citizens to view its beauty.
  • Received a $2,000 Innovation Grant from the NFIE that was used to fund Camp Writer's Block: A Family Affair. This is a four-month family writing camp that teaches helpful writing strategies. Students write and illustrate their own books that are then professionally published and dedicated at a formal author's reception.
  • Twice named one of the top 40 teachers in the nation by USA Today
  • Began a family partnership program, Second Grade Success Easy for Partners in Education authoring a family resource guide and visiting homes to share ways to reinforce at home what is being taught at school
  • Established Project A.B.C. (All Businesses Care) taking outstanding class work or projects to local businesses to be displayed in the community
  • Other Honors: District Teacher of the Year, Jiffy Lube Teaching Excellence Award, North Carolina PTA District 4 Outstanding Educator, Terry Sanford Award for Creativity in teaching, State Finalist for Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching