Florence Fortune
Florence Fortune, also known as "Flip", grew up in New York and Rhode Island. She graduated from St. Mary Academy in 1945. She decided to pursue a teaching career at the Rhode Island College of Education and then transferred to The Perry Kindergarten Normal School in Boston.
Flip first heard of the town of Branford in an ad at school for kindergarten teachers. During the summer, Flip and a friend came to Short Beach in Branford and she fell in love with the town and her future husband, Bill. In 1951, Flip came to Branford to teach kindergarten. She married Bill and soon settled into the role of wife and teacher. Flip stayed home to raise her family, always staying involved in the school system as a member of the PTA, room mother and reading volunteer.
Unfortunately, Flip became a widow at a young age. When Flip heard that the AME Zion Church was going to open Branford Day Care Center, she readily applied. Her first position in the new center was teacher aide. The director heard of a grant to help Day Care Workers to w0rk toward degrees. Since Flip was working part time and qualified, she attended the University of Bridgeport and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1976. Along with the degree came the offer to become a teacher at Branford Day Care Center. During that time she had an unforgettable impact on the toddlers and three-year old students who were in her class. Flip encouraged all of her students to be creative and learn through play and self-discovery. Flip introduced concepts to her students through projects that are still being used today.
Flip was always very proud of her students' accomplishments and would display these works of art in the classroom. One of the parents' favorite parts of the day was to hear the funny things the children would say, such as "corn on a stick", "fruit cottontail " and "college cheese", which Flip shared often. Memories were made during these years that have never been forgotten.
During her twenty years at Branford Day Care, Flip saw children grow up, become successful adults and bring their own toddlers to the day care. A true testament of Flip's love of teaching is that she passed this love of education on to some other students who are teachers today! She was respected by her peers and was available to help her fellow teachers in any situation.
In 1993, Flip decided to retire. She retired for about a month and then became the assistant site director in the School Age Child Care program at Sliney School. Here she taught children ages 5 to 12 and once again her magic and talents surfaced.
Flip has also been very involved in the community. She has taught catechism at St. Mary's Church for over thirty years. She has played Mother Goose at the Blackstone Children's Library for several years. She encouraged her students inside the classroom and in the community. You may see Flip at almost every Branford event. Flip is the proud mother of five children: Bill, Bob, Jane and Nancy. She had a son Tom, who died at an early age. Flip is also proud of her six grandchildren.
Flip first heard of the town of Branford in an ad at school for kindergarten teachers. During the summer, Flip and a friend came to Short Beach in Branford and she fell in love with the town and her future husband, Bill. In 1951, Flip came to Branford to teach kindergarten. She married Bill and soon settled into the role of wife and teacher. Flip stayed home to raise her family, always staying involved in the school system as a member of the PTA, room mother and reading volunteer.
Unfortunately, Flip became a widow at a young age. When Flip heard that the AME Zion Church was going to open Branford Day Care Center, she readily applied. Her first position in the new center was teacher aide. The director heard of a grant to help Day Care Workers to w0rk toward degrees. Since Flip was working part time and qualified, she attended the University of Bridgeport and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1976. Along with the degree came the offer to become a teacher at Branford Day Care Center. During that time she had an unforgettable impact on the toddlers and three-year old students who were in her class. Flip encouraged all of her students to be creative and learn through play and self-discovery. Flip introduced concepts to her students through projects that are still being used today.
Flip was always very proud of her students' accomplishments and would display these works of art in the classroom. One of the parents' favorite parts of the day was to hear the funny things the children would say, such as "corn on a stick", "fruit cottontail " and "college cheese", which Flip shared often. Memories were made during these years that have never been forgotten.
During her twenty years at Branford Day Care, Flip saw children grow up, become successful adults and bring their own toddlers to the day care. A true testament of Flip's love of teaching is that she passed this love of education on to some other students who are teachers today! She was respected by her peers and was available to help her fellow teachers in any situation.
In 1993, Flip decided to retire. She retired for about a month and then became the assistant site director in the School Age Child Care program at Sliney School. Here she taught children ages 5 to 12 and once again her magic and talents surfaced.
Flip has also been very involved in the community. She has taught catechism at St. Mary's Church for over thirty years. She has played Mother Goose at the Blackstone Children's Library for several years. She encouraged her students inside the classroom and in the community. You may see Flip at almost every Branford event. Flip is the proud mother of five children: Bill, Bob, Jane and Nancy. She had a son Tom, who died at an early age. Flip is also proud of her six grandchildren.