Keith & Sylvia McBrayer

   From 2005 to the present, Sylvia Rambo McBrayer has been a homebound teacher for Denison ISD and from 2002-2003 she taught English and Theater at Bland ISD in Merit, where she motivated students to pass the TAKS test and directed a one act play. She also served as adjunct professor at SOSU and at Grayson College. Teaching theater, English, speech and customer service and directing more than 75 productions while teaching other educators to use customer service skills in the classroom and Developed Invisible Student Program for suicide prevention and teaching leadership classes from 1973 through 1999 at Denison High School.

   The nominator for Keith McBrayer said he had known the teacher since he was in junior high and still is in contact with him 40 years later. He described his former teacher as the epitome of what a teacher should be: a selfless innovator who dedicates all his efforts to teaching. He said Keith McBrayer has the ability to transfer his love of history that comes easily to him whether playing a board game to explain a battle, dressing up in costume to create a mood or playing money games when he taught economics. His approaches were unique to capture his students’ interest.

   From 2012 to the present, Keith McBrayer has been educational director at the Harbor Wildlife Museum. He has sponsored many high school groups of students and directed numerous programs for students. He took students to Washington, D.C. four times and students to Europe 12 times. He has been honored numerous times for achievements as a teacher and, coached Boys Club football, baseball and soccer and Girls Club soccer in Denison.