There are those occasions when a refreshing letter comes across the desk. Today was one of them.
Assistant Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski shared a letter she received from one of our teachers at Remington Middle School. The letter speaks to the caliber of the staff in the Franklin Public Schools, their commitment to public education, and their dedication to the task at hand. The Paul and Shawn she is referring to are Principal Paul Peri and Assistant Principal Shawn Forton. It is with great pleasure that I share it with you here:
Dear Maureen,
I feel it necessary to email you my thoughts about Paul, Shawn, and Franklin in general. Let me back track a little bit. Before I got to Franklin, I thought I would be potentially entering my last year of being a teacher. The administration and politics at my previous school district burnt me out with their rigid rules on the make-up of the perfect teacher. It allowed me to forget why I went into teaching in the first place-the children. Everything seemed to overshadow my passion for teaching. I found myself saying that I was going to work every day, not school. I even questioned my effectiveness in the classroom.
When I arrived at my interview at RMS, I didn’t know that I would leave the building praying that I would be hired by Franklin. The professionalism of Tim, Paul, Jeff Chaffee, and Shawn during the interview shined. Their vision of finding the perfect fit for RMS was evident. I was offered two jobs before Paul had called me. I bravely asked these two schools to be patient as I was waiting to hear back from another school (RMS). When Paul called me with the offer, I was in Seventh Heaven! Suddenly, my enthusiasm for being a teacher came back! This has only rejuvenated itself working with Paul and Shawn.
Paul welcomed me to the RMS community by offering his assistance from everything from desks to school supplies. Little did I know at the time, that he was stepping into new shoes himself (Do you like that one?). He was dealing with his own transition, but that never got in the way of helping a new teacher find her way around RMS. He has always been very clear that he’s available anytime. I can go into his office anytime, and he’ll drop whatever it is to help/hear me. Paul says what he means, and means what he says. It’s always about the little things isn’t it? Before school started, I received a card from Paul welcoming me to RMS. Since then, I’ve received thank you cards for various occasions such as volunteering at the schools’ “Lock-In.” It’s these little gestures of appreciation that really go a long way. On our Wed Memos, Paul posts “Best Practices.” This spotlights what my colleagues are doing well in their classroom. This builds community and allows everyone to celebrate the top-notch staff. It brings us closer as the family that we are. Paul is a precious gem, a D-Flawless, if you will.
I was so excited to have Shawn as a teammie. Then, he was taken away and promoted to Assistant Principal. Good call!!! Shawn is junior in his position, but this never hindered his ability to make decisions regarding the students. Last year, I stopped sending students to the A.P. because there was no point. I knew that I could give them a better suited consequence. This year, there is never a hesitation. I know that when I send a student to Shawn, he is going to assess the situation and handle it in the best way possible. He’ll consult me either before or after meeting with the student to ensure that it is handled well. I appreciate the respect. Shawn commands respect and gets it. Furthermore, the students always know that Shawn will make a fair decision. One time, Shawn was walking down the hallway and my students had set up their Giver projects. They really wanted him to see them because they value his opinion. He took time out of his busy schedule and visited my classroom to pay his oohs and ahhs to the students’ hard work. They were so thrilled! Shawn is always friendly and approachable.
I wanted to let you know how thrilled I am to go to school, not work every day. Franklin has renewed my love for teaching. My administration, team, and colleagues are second to none. I take the CBJ class on Thurs and have gotten to know teachers working in the other middle schools. Franklin certainly only hires the cream of the crop.
Lastly, I wanted to congratulate you in your new role. May you have fabulous shoes on your first official day on the job!
Julie McManuis, M.Ed.
Remington Middle School
Grade 7: English/Language Arts
