PHOTO GALLERY: Wanda Brown to retire after 34 years with Columbia Public Schools

Wanda Brown teaches a class at Hickman High School in 1980. Brown said she always knew she wanted to go into education. She started teaching at Hickman almost straight out of college.   |  Courtesy of Wanda Brown

Wanda Brown works with a student at Hickman High School in 1980. Brown said her favorite class to teach was American Culture, a combination of American literature and American history that she team-taught for about five years with Hank Landry.   |  Courtesy of Wanda Brown

Wanda Brown teaches at Hickman High School in this 1980 photo. Early in her teaching career, Wanda Brown began dressing professionally to set herself apart from her students. She tried to wear suits and heels despite Hickman's lack of air conditioning at the time.   |  Courtesy of Wanda Brown

Wanda Brown talks to Annelle Whitt about the Minority Achievement Committee Scholars program in Brown's office at the Columbia Public Schools Administration Building. In 2001, Brown helped the district start the program, which aims to increase the number of minority students in Advanced Placement and honors courses.   |  Sam Gause

Wanda Brown, assistant superintendent for Columbia Public Schools Secondary Education, retires this year after 34 years with the district.   |  Sam Gause