Ezell Brown
Director of Transportation Ezell Brown earned his Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in communication studies at New Mexico State University. While at NMSU, he exhibited leadership qualities by being voted president of the Black Allied Student Association and grand exchequer of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Theta Omega Chapter). He was also a representative of the Student Athlete Club and Captain of the New Mexico State University football and track teams. Brown began his transportation career at the Region 5 Education Service Center where he served for nine years. During this time, he spearheaded a public service announcement (PSA) with the Southeast Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (SETAPT) and the Department of Public Safety. The PSA continued to inform the public of the severity of running past the red lights of a school bus. He has assisted in giving workshops at the state level on the “Blueprint to Saving Lives,” a short documentary on a school bus disaster drill. Brown is certified as a state instructor for the School Bus Driver Training Course as well as for Operation Lifesaver. Brown continued his transportation career with stints at Beaumont ISD and Port Arthur ISD, and now back to Beaumont ISD. Along the way, he has become certified by the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT). He currently presides as president of the Southeast Texas Association for Pupil Transportation and is on the research committee in the transportation field of the Texas Association of School Business Officials. Brown has been married to Juliet Coleman Brown for thirteen years; they have two sons, Julian and Ethan.
Fannie Brown
Supervisor, Special Education Department Fannie L. Brown is a Gulfport, Mississippi native who did her undergraduate study at Alcorn State University. Brown earned a full fellowship to Ohio State University where she went on to complete a master’s degree (June 1977) in nine months. The first time an individual completed their masters’ degree studies in such a short time in the history of the university. After marrying in August 1977 and moving to Texas, Fannie became employed with the Beaumont Police Department as a crime scene clerk whose responsibility was to label and tag evidence from crime scenes. The photos of children who had been abused or neglected proved to be too much for her. After a year in this position, she sought employment with the Beaumont Independent School District as a teacher of special needs students. She pioneered the program of vocational education for the Handicapped (VEH) which got its start at the old Edwards Education Center on the corner of Detroit and Filmore in Beaumont’s North End. She was a part of the team who helped design the layout for the Taylor Career Center’s Food Production and Management labs. Brown spent 13 years in this position before pursuing her present position as special education supervisor. Her love for and appreciation of special needs students continues to drive her life’s chosen career. 12