HERNANDO, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher has spent her entire career at the same school. Martha Brown teaches 5th-grade math and science at Hernando Elementary School.

She has been teaching at the school for 40 years. In that time, she’s left her mark on thousands of students.

Brown said she pictured herself becoming a teacher when she was very young.

“I lined up all of my animals on my bed and I talked to them, and I wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. And if I had to do it all over again, I would. I love what I do,” Brown said.

She said she loves building relationships with her students year after year.

“The kids are amazing. When the light bulb goes off and they understand something that’s a difficult concept, it just makes it all worthwhile," Brown said. "And then when they return after being back to school. It’s just a blessing.”

Brown said she’s now teaching the children of students she had years ago. 

“I now have in my classroom this year, I have three parents where I now have their children this year,” Brown said.

She went on to say, “Even though the generations have changed, they’re still kids. They still have that desire to learn. They want structure. I love what I do, and it’s hard to see that it may come to an end at some point. I can’t do it my whole life.”

The students, staff and parents at Hernando Elementary said they hope that Brown continues teaching for years to come.