Testimonials

Dr. Gary Brown was one of those teachers you always remember. As a student in his seventh-grade class, I recall him being professional, fun, and full of ways to keep his students enthralled. He always welcomed us into class with a “good morning grasshoppers” greeting that put everyone in a good mood. Although science was never my favorite subject (I’m more of an English/writing person), Dr. Brown made our class interesting. We studied life functions, the structures of the heart and their function, worked on endangered species projects, and even dissected a frog. The latter was not my favorite but Dr. Brown got me through it! I always think of Dr. Brown fondly and, all these years later, I appreciate that he still kindly supports my accomplishments. - L.L.

My daughter attended Ransom Everglades School for Middle School and High School. Ransom has a very vigorous academic curriculum, and is well-known for its rigorous college preparation with a commitment to personal responsibility. My daughter went on to receive high scores in all her AP's, as well as being selected as a National Honor Merit student, and received a full scholarship to the college of her choice. We were most fortunate that she had Dr. Gary Brown as her first Homeroom adviser and educator in Middle School as she started her academic career at Ransom Everglades School. My daughter loved Dr. Brown, and thrived in his class, both academically, and emotionally. She was initially very shy, and she blossomed throughout the year. Dr. Gary Brown is an extremely talented educator, and is insightful, intuitive, extraordinarily kind, and fun. I think you will discover that Dr. Brown is exceptional at his vocation, and will help guide each student to their maximum potential. - C.H.

I first met Dr. Brown back in August of 1995, during my first day of 6th grade. I remember vividly his enthusiasm for teaching and how easily he made learning science fun; we learned about earth science (ocean vs. land temperature temperature changes), chemistry (including testing the safety of the lab shower in case of accident!), and participated in model rocket launches. He also has a great sense of humor, when he asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, one student said an aerodynamic engineer... and then asked for clarification, "do you mean you want to be an engineer who is aerodynamic?", it still makes me laugh a little!

I eventually studied biochemistry (MSc) and medicine (MD), and am now picking up some more math skills to eventually find a position as a biomedical engineer. Dr. Brown is a great teacher, and one who combines the enjoyment of learning science with high standards. I wonder if he still has that huge Saturn V rocket model around somewhere?! Any youngster would do very well to learn from Dr. Gary Brown! - E.B

You're the man, Dr. Brown! I miss having you as a teacher! All of the following is 100000% accurate.

I am so fortunate to have been taught by Dr. Gary Brown. As an engaged and charismatic educator that truly cares about his student's success and understanding, Dr. Brown provided me with the skill sets needed to grasp difficult topics and concepts. In fact, Dr. Brown's educational techniques have had a long lasting effect on my life and I attribute much of my success to the guidance that he graciously provided me in my formative years. Dr. Brown goes above and beyond, as he has instilled an appreciation and desire for me to step out of my comfort zone in order to learn and discover new and exciting things. Whether it is building model rockets or learning about this wonderful planet we call home, everyday being taught by Dr. Brown was a blessing. I could only wish that all students have access to the priceless education that was provided to me by Dr. Brown. A true gem that needs to be discovered by all students young and old. - A.G.

I took Dr. Brown's Life Sciences class as a 7th grader at Ransom Everglades, in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is amazing to realize that I still remember that class - some of it vividly. Although the specific topics taught I've long forgotten, or so deeply absorbed that I no longer remember learning them, the learning atmosphere of the class and my lasting memories of those morning teaching periods still remain. Dr. Brown - Mr. Brown then - created a fun and enjoyable environment, while still challenging us academically. He made learning a tough subject, with demanding course objectives, fun. Dr. Brown would challenge us with "double headers" and "triple headers," meaning two or three quizzes, respectively, in a row. But I remember being challenged, and not overwhelmed, by these tests of memory. Dr. Brown demanded my best, and I was happy to try and live up to the expectation. My profession now is communications, as I work as a communications specialist for the University of Florida, one of the nation's top-10 public universities. But I remember Dr. Brown's Life Sciences class fondly, and I think that's a wonderful testament to his ability as a teacher and mentor of young people. - B.M.

It has been 22 years since I first walked into Mr. Brown’s class but I remember it like it was yesterday. It was second period on my first day of middle school and we were all greeted with an overly enthusiastic “Good morning, Grasshoppers!” It seems like it would be easy for a teacher to show enthusiasm on the first day of class but it is another feat altogether for that enthusiasm to persevere throughout an entire school year. Therein lies the beauty of Mr. Brown’s class. He brought the same level of excitement everyday and had us craving more and more knowledge on every subject raised. He kept the class exciting by incorporating pop culture references and rounds of jeopardy into the curriculum. He also took the time to actually get to know his students individually, typically giving us unique and endearing nicknames. The fact that I remember that feldspar is number 6 on the Mohs hardness scale is a testament to the impression left by Mr. Brown. In a system which can be boring leading to disengaged students, Mr. Brown was a rare shining light. - M.A.C.

I was never a morning person, but I always enjoyed and looked forward to Mr. Brown’s 7th Grade first period class. His passion and sense of humor made the subject matter a pleasure to learn, and he was always more than willing to help you better understand if you had more questions. His dedication still influences me today as a Research Coordinator, as I continue to pursue the necessity for scientific exploration. - J.A.

It's been over 20 years and I still clearly remember Dr. Brown's class. Dr. Brown had the gift of making the most complex and seemingly "boring" topics exciting. He truly made learning fun by using creative teaching methods like hosting in-class "Jeopardy" competitions (with actual buzzers!) and arming his students with useful mnemonic devices. I feel truly lucky to have been one of Dr. Brown's students. - L.Z.

I was Mr. Brown's student in 6th grade for Earth Science. To this day, he stands out as one of the most engaging and fun teachers I've ever had. Regardless of the subject, he brought the material to life. I especially remember building and launching model rockets; a very cool hands on experiment. His teaching style made me want to work hard in a way that felt exciting instead of stressful, which is quite the feat. In an academic setting with many good educators, Mr. Brown stands out as both holding the students to a high standard, while also creating an environment that was fun and inviting. In my current life, I'm a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is educators like Mr. Brown that instill a lifelong love of learning in those he teaches.

And for the record, our daily greeting was: good afternoon grasshoppers,

"Good afternoon Mr. Brown, King of all science, sir. I love science, wooo!, especially when Mr. Brown is teaching it, and we could go on and on and on, but we won't so let's get started!" Followed by the wave every day. - A.G.

I had Dr. Brown for 3rd period of my 6th grade year at Ransom Everglades Middle School. Joining the other 13 or so students in the frigid science room was easy with a warm welcome from Dr. Brown, "Good Morning, Grasshoppers!" Dr Brown taught us Earth Science in a way that made sense and was a lot easier than regurgitating worksheets from our textbooks. He was always over prepared for the daily lesson and he somehow made the 40 or so minute class fly right by. We were always prepared for his tests and I was never afraid to ask questions during class. Dr Brown was also a pleasure on class trips. A certain trip to Disney comes to mind. He assured us on the bus ride home that he recorded the X-Files and he would lend the tape if needed. Dr Brown was always available for extra help if I needed it and he remained approachable long after I moved on from the 6th grade. Dr Brown is an example that I try to follow whenever I have the pleasure of teaching young dancers in the ballet world. I always incorporate a bit of humor into my classes to lighten up the rigorous training.Thanks for everything!

Hope you are well! - A.T.