A bittersweet night for Dawbarn winner

Steve Brown could be forgiven if he felt mixed emotions Tuesday night at the annual Dawbarn Education Awards ceremony at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center.

Brown’s family and a legion of Berkeley Glenn Elementary staff came to support him. They were all there to see him honored as one of the Dawbarn Award recipients for 2011. Brown works at Berkeley Glenn as a custodian and is revered as a role model for the children he serves.

There was one person missing Tuesday night: Brown’s wife, Jennifer. She died unexpectedly a week ago.

“My wife was looking so forward to being here,” Steve Brown said. “I had to be here. It means a lot to my mom and kids.”

His Waynesboro schools family noted his courage in making an appearance so soon after his wife’s death.

Superintendent Robin Crowder described Brown as “amazing,” and said Tuesday was an important night for the Brown family. Crowder said Jennifer Brown worked for the Waynesboro schools as a bus aide.

Berkeley Glenn Principal Sharon Tooley said her teachers and other staff would have showed up under ordinary circumstances.

“They think so much of him,” said Tooley, who said the events of last week made it even more important for Brown’s friends to appear Tuesday night.

There were other inspiring stories on display, as well.

Another Dawbarn recipient, Fort Defiance High English/speech teacher Susan Miller, told the audience she was accompanied by her daughter and grandchildren.

Her husband was unable to make it because he was recovering from open-heart surgery at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

And Miller briefly tugged at her hair, remarking that a year ago she had less of it because she was undergoing chemotherapy.

Miller persevered under difficult circumstances. And one of her students perhaps put it best in the tribute that was read as the educator received her award:

“Each day is a joy for her. She squeezes the most out of every moment, and she makes us do the same. She knows no gloom, no end of the road, no giving up, and an attitude like that is contagious.”