Bartlesville’s Shelley Brown

By Elizabeth Contreras

Long before Shelley Brown stood in front of a high school classroom, she was a quiet third grader in British Columbia with a curious mind and a teacher who noticed.

“I still have my class journal from that year,” Brown says. “Mrs. Maitland always encouraged me to make observations and ask questions, which is where my passion for science began.”

That early spark stayed with her, eventually leading to a degree in microbiology and a career as a lab technician in several industries. Years later, after starting a family and volunteering in her children’s schools, Brown found herself pulled back toward that same sense of wonder and discovery. Bringing real-world experience to the classroom, Brown’s path to education was shaped by motherhood and volunteering. Now preparing for her fourth year of teaching at Bartlesville High School, she brings both scientific knowledge and a personal passion for connection into her biology classroom.

“My journey to the classroom was not traditional,” says Brown. “But meeting new students each year and helping them try to find their path has been such a neat experience.”

“I honestly love to study life,” she adds. “I hope I can help my students see how amazing biology is.”

Brown is known for her calm presence, her patience, and her ability to help students believe in themselves. Having once been a shy student, she understands the power of simply being heard.

“I try my best to listen and take time to speak to all of my students,” she says. “So, I have patience and wait and listen.”

That approach has shaped the way she teaches—using hands-on labs, visual learning, and activities that bring science to life beyond the textbook. In her honors biology class, she also oversees student participation in the Bartlesville District Science Fair, often giving up extra hours to support their work.

With five children of her own, Brown understands the challenges of balancing home and school life.

“I try to leave grading and planning at school, but I do end up having to bring work home sometimes to stay caught up,” she says. “I have hope that as I gain more experience and implement more efficient procedures, my work/home life balance will continue to improve.”

Despite the long days and full schedule, it’s the everyday moments that remind her why she teaches.

“Success to me is having students leave my classroom feeling more confident in themselves and more curious about the world they live in.”