Ken Brown ’68 has been a positive, motivating teacher for 44 years. He has a BA in elementary education from Miami University and a MEd, also from Miami University. After graduating from college, he was drafted into the US Army in 1972. He served until 1974, then secured a teaching job at St. Mary’s in Hamilton, starting two days after returning from the service. He’s also taught at Talawanda City Schools, Hamilton City Schools and landed at Badin after he retired from Hamilton in 2010. He currently teaches CP Biology and is an assistant coach with the Badin baseball program. His teaching and coaching ideaology is to ‘do what is most important for the kids, not the subject.’ He strives to motivate students, give them confidence and ‘bring them up.’ He says, ‘if a student walks into my classroom with a smile, that’s half the battle right there!’ He expects much from his students and players in a positive manner and feels that they respond and want to do better. ‘Kids respond to positivity.’ When asked how he makes a difference, he says time and time again – ‘...they make a difference in me.’ He contemplates retirement, but says his last thoughts every night are about the kids at school, and he wakes up early and energized to come to Badin and loves to be with kids. Though he thinks about it, he says he’s not ready to retire because this is where he loves to be.

He recently read and recommends a book given to him by Mr. Brion Treadway – "Lead for God’s Sake" by Todd Gongwer. Ken proudly leads the baseball team in prayer before games.

Ken is married to Wanda Ball Brown ’68 and is the very proud father of two sons, Patrick ’95 & Kevin ’98 and 6 grandchildren.

What are you passionate about?
Family - Teaching - Coaching Baseball

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I will never grow up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who inspires you and why?
Brian Pendergest inspires me to be the best teacher I can be; Brion Treadway inspires me to be the best coach I can be, and former principal Gloria Baker (from Hayes Elementary) also inspired me. She had high expectations, which in turn made me a better teacher.

What led you to your career/business?
I have always wanted to be a teacher going back to my high school days.

What is your best advice for current Badin students?
"It is not how long you live, but HOW you live!"

If you had $1 million what would you do with it?
I would give most of it away. The baseball program can use the money.

Thinking of yourself, what are you most proud of?
I have raised two SUPER sons who are GREAT husbands and GREAT fathers.

What is one thing you’ve learned while at Badin that you still use and value today?
Never stop growing and learning as a person.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like to share with us?
I have taught for 44 years and never worked a day in my life because I have loved it so much.