Since I began submitting these diaries a few months ago, many of them have offered a defense of public schools in the face of increasing criticism from legislators seeking easy targets during an election year.
Sadly, when you hear about public schoolteachers, is is generally divided into one of two categories. It is either as union members allegedly standing in the way of educational progress or perverts who are preying on their students.
Sadly, it is not considered news when teachers inspire their students to greater heights.
No one is writing about teachers like my colleague, Kim Frencken, a sixth grade English teacher at East Middle School in Joplin. Today, I am going to correct that oversight.
It is no secret that sometimes teachers reach into their own pockets and spend money to make their lessons special or to provide something for their children that is not in the school budget.
For those teachers, the stores where everything sells for a dollar have been a godsend and if you look sharply you may just see Kim Frencken at one of those stores.
Sometimes she buys a book she thinks her children might want to read. Recently, she forked over three dollars for one of author Mike Lupica’s sports books and was excited about the purchase as if she planned to read it herself instead of using it to interest some of the young gentlemen in her class into actually opening a book.
More often, Kim, who has spent more than 13 years teaching in the Joplin R-8 School District, buys supplies to help create fun activities to help her students learn how to construct sentences properly or how to use various parts of speech.
Those who listen to her when she returns from one of her dollar store excursions with some newfound treasure could not be blamed for thinking this is some rookie teacher who has yet to be burned out from constant exposure to disrespectful behavior from students and endless paperwork from district officials. That is not the case. Her enthusiasm for the children and the work has kept the fires burning for Kim Frencken.
Kim is the kind of teacher who has reached thousands of children throughout the years, but it still doesn’t hurt to hear one of them singing your praises.
And that’s just what happened last Friday on the final day at East Middle School, thanks to one of the students in my eighth grade English class, Taryn Parker.
Each year, my students write papers extolling the virtues of teachers who have affected their lives. It is not a popularity contest. The students themselves vote on who wrote the best paper and this year, Taryn was the hands-down winner, and her chosen teacher, Kim Frencken, was selected Most Inspirational Teacher of the Year.
I had the privilege of introducing Taryn during the awards assembly, and she read the paper, not mentioning immediately who the recipient of the award was. She talked about how this teacher helped her through one of the most difficult times of her young life- the days after her beloved grandmother passed away.
Taryn spoke of a teacher who had stood ready to help her in any way possible and how much that had meant to her and still meant to her two years later.
The tears were streaming down Kim Frencken’s face as she realized that Taryn was talking about her, a fact that became evident moments later when she finally said Kim’s name.
The conclusion of the letter, the one that made the most impact for the kids who voted for it, as well as for the recipient of the award, simply stated, “This is not an award that Mrs. Frencken deserves, this is an award that deserves Mrs. Frencken.”
An obviously affected Kim made her way to the stage, where she received a hug from Taryn and the certificate proclaiming her the Most Inspirational Teacher of the Year. More than the award or the standing ovation, I am betting Kim will cherish the other item she received from Taryn Parker- the paper that earned the honor.
“That meant so much to me,” Kim told me after the assembly ended. “It’s the first time I have ever won anything. I still can’t believe that she wrote that for me.”
Most teachers go through their careers wondering if they are really getting through to their students. Kim Frencken has been getting through to hers for years and making a positive impact on their lives.
And now thanks to a former student who will never forget her, Kim has that proof in black and white.
(The presentation of Kim Frencken’s award can be seen on YouTube.)