NATCHEZ — A Natchez Early College Academy teacher recently earned an outstanding professional educator award, given by the Mississippi Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Erica Brown-Tanner, who teaches English I, English II and world literature, was selected by Alcorn State University for the award and is one of 15 recipients honored throughout the state.

“This high honor is bestowed upon one individual at each of the 15 colleges, universities in the State of Mississippi annually,” said Tony Fields, Natchez-Adams School District Public Relations Coordinator.

Brown-Tanner said she doesn’t know why Alcorn nominated her for the award, but she is humbled nonetheless.

“I must have done something right,” Brown-Tanner said.

The MACTE is a statewide organization affiliated with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

“This past May, I graduated from Alcorn with my master’s degree in secondary education in English,” Brown-Tanner said. “I helped the (Alcorn) school of education on my own time. I looked at and helped revise the curriculum, helped interning teachers and so forth. The school of education probably nominated me because I helped them improve the teaching experience for the teachers and students.”

Brown-Tanner has been teaching full time at the Natchez Early College Academy since 2016. Before then, she served as the campus-wide coordinator at the University of Southern Mississippi’s writing center and taught English composition I and II, and English 099 courses at USM. She graduated from Natchez High School in 1998 and attended USM.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Brown-Tanner said. “It’s a very prestigious award. There are 35,000 educators in the State of Mississippi. So, to be honored with this award is truly humbling.”