By Ed Pierce
Every student deserves a champion, a teacher who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. For many Windham Middle School students, Katie Franzoni is that teacher.
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| Katie Franzoni has taught math and science at Windham Middle School for the past 17 years and she also serves as coach for the WMS seventh-grade girls' basketball team. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
“I love building relationships with my students and seeing them grow and develop new skills,” Franzoni said. “I also love that every day is different. Middle schoolers are unique and interesting too. They keep me on my toes and say and do the funniest things. Our motto is you can't make this stuff up."
She’s taught at Windham Middle School for the past 17 years and currently teaches three science blocks, one math block, an “ignite block” which is time for students to read, work on iReady math lessons, or other work that they need to, and an advisory block, a time to connect with a small group of students to build a small community within the bigger school community, and build peer-to-peer relationships. Franzoni also serves on the WMS leadership team that meets twice a month with school administrators to discuss school-related issues, plan upcoming professional development for the staff, and other topics.
“The most challenging aspect of what I do is meeting the diverse needs of all the learners in the classroom,” she said. “They come in with a range of abilities, prior knowledge, and home lives. My job is to make them feel safe and welcome so that they are ready and able to learn.”
Originally from Calais, Maine, Franzoni attended the University of Southern Maine and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in math before obtaining a master's degree in Elementary Education. While at USM she was a standout on the women's basketball team, serving as team captain and was a starter for the team that went to two Final Fours and was the national runner-up in 2006. She was proud to be inducted into the USM Hall of Fame in 2019.
Her student teaching in college was at Windham Primary School and Franzoni says through that experience, she fell in love with the school district here.
“The teaching program at USM has a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with RSU 14,” she said. “My family likes living in the same community where I teach. Windham is an amazing community who supports and encourages one another.”
According to Franzoni, her most memorable moments while working for Windham Middle School take place every spring.
“It's not one moment as it happens every year, but I love raising brook trout with my students,” she said. “We have 300 brook trout eggs delivered to our classroom at the end of January. We learn about their life cycle and the water quality that they need to survive. We release them into the Pleasant River at the end of May. My students love learning about trout. They check on them daily and are excited to watch them grow and develop and eventually release them into the river.”
The greatest misconception people may have about her work is that it is just a 7 to 2 job,” Franzoni said.
“Teaching is more than a bell-to-bell job. We often stay late or bring work home,” she said. “We care about our students beyond what they are being asked to learn. We often carry the worries, struggles, and hardships of our students.”
The most important thing that she says she’s learned while working at WMS is rather simple.
“Although we have to put up with a lot of demands, whether it be from administrators, students, parents, or anyone else who has an opinion about teachers and teaching, we need to put those interests aside and focus on doing a good job for our students,” Franzoni said. <
Her student teaching in college was at Windham Primary School and Franzoni says through that experience, she fell in love with the school district here.
“The teaching program at USM has a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with RSU 14,” she said. “My family likes living in the same community where I teach. Windham is an amazing community who supports and encourages one another.”
According to Franzoni, her most memorable moments while working for Windham Middle School take place every spring.
“It's not one moment as it happens every year, but I love raising brook trout with my students,” she said. “We have 300 brook trout eggs delivered to our classroom at the end of January. We learn about their life cycle and the water quality that they need to survive. We release them into the Pleasant River at the end of May. My students love learning about trout. They check on them daily and are excited to watch them grow and develop and eventually release them into the river.”
The greatest misconception people may have about her work is that it is just a 7 to 2 job,” Franzoni said.
“Teaching is more than a bell-to-bell job. We often stay late or bring work home,” she said. “We care about our students beyond what they are being asked to learn. We often carry the worries, struggles, and hardships of our students.”
The most important thing that she says she’s learned while working at WMS is rather simple.
“Although we have to put up with a lot of demands, whether it be from administrators, students, parents, or anyone else who has an opinion about teachers and teaching, we need to put those interests aside and focus on doing a good job for our students,” Franzoni said. <
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