BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Students tend to be swamped with essays and books in 11th and 12th grade English. One educator is showing teens how to dissect a good read while gaining confidence. "There's a passion that burns within me, whether I'm at church or at school to teach," said English teacher Tony Brown. When we met Brown, he was in his classroom, teaching not from the "good book" but instead, another fantastic read — The Great Gatsby. Brown teaches about 80 students a day. He was once an editor at "The Advocate" but decided to do something different to make an impact. Every day, he strives to show students how to understand the themes they are reading and improve their writing. Baton Rouge school counselor loves kids, helps teachers and lives her dream every day "I've been teaching, it will be 10 years in November," Brown explained. "If you want to write a good essay you need two things. "No. 1, you need to read well, and No. 2, you need to be well read." Brown hopes students take away more than just how to comprehend literature but also how to have confidence. "I told them, 'Take ownership of your education and everything about you, and once you get in there, you dominate it,'" he said. "There's nothing impossible to them. So, if there's anything I can teach them, it would be that." As we observed his classroom, his students were heavily engaged. Brown says that's because he makes each lesson interesting. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now BRProud Daily News SIGN UP NOW "On occasion, I'll do this if one of them gives me a great answer, I'll pull out some money and give them a dollar or something like that," said Brown. Brown works hard to ensure that learning pays for his students, and that's why he's an Extraordinary Educator. Latest News Daughter claims mother's body 'misplaced' in Memphis cemetery Trump assassination suspect demands Judge Cannon recuse from case Two candidates share plans, goals if elected as Baton Rouge City Constable Sentencing postponed for Baton Rouge mom found guilty in death of boy after defense lawyers ask for new trial Democrats in tight House races ride Harris fundraising momentum to outpace GOP