Francis Walsh
For nearly thirty-five years the name Fran Walsh has been synonymous with quality education in Branford and indeed, beyond. Hired in 1969, Fran taught in Branford for two years before being named principal of Branford Intermediate School, which now bears his name. His position at that time was unique in many respects: He was a principal with no staff, no students, and no building-at least not for another year and a half-probably one of the smartest decisions Branford has ever made. This time allowed for careful development of the middle school concept, recruitment and training of the best available staff, and thoughtful consideration of every detail that would be involved in implementing an educational concept that would be different from the traditional elementary or junior high school. Decisions to be made ranged from the global (teaching philosophy and curriculum design and development) to the mundane (the selection and purchasing of movable furniture and equipment). But even the routine decisions were important in supporting and implementing the ultimate goal, and Fran took none of them lightly.
In the early 1970s, middle-school education was a daring and innovative concept. The school that resulted in Branford came about through collaboration with staff that allowed them to pilot programs, to travel to other schools, and to participate in the decision-making process. Team collaborators included veterans of more than twenty years and rookies with only a few years’ experience. Seniority made no difference to Fran as he introduced them to the team concept-both in planning and in teaching-and to a way of education that combined the best of the traditional ways, along with the constant changes that educational philosophy would undergo in the next three decades. The resulting system led to interdisciplinary teams, block scheduling, and the inclusion of applied arts, music, and physical education in every fifth through eighth grader’s program.
Branford quickly became a model for schools around the country and around the world to view when exploring new ways of educating middle-level students. In the first few years that the school was open, hardly a week went by that Fran wasn't offering tours to other educators wanting to learn from this model. In addition, he was often invited to speak to other school systems trying to solve the problems he had already overcome. For many years he served on the Middle Level Board of Control for the Connecticut Association of Schools and helped write the job descriptions for its first executive director of the Middle Level Schools.
Besides being an innovator, Fran Walsh is an educator at heart, and always advocated for his students and staff even when other administrators disagreed. Branford students always came first with him, then the teaching staff, then all the others (parents, support staff, community members) who made the school work like the finely tooled, people-friendly community that it was. Colleagues agree that even when he and they disagreed, they always knew that they had been heard and respected and that Fran valued their opinions as educators as well as people. They were always confident that in the end his decision was made in the best interest of the entire school community-not in the interest of one group over another.
For many years Fran served on the Human Services Board for the town and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Branford Community Foundation. He has recently completed three terms as Branford's Second Selectman.
When Fran retired in 1994, a way of education retired with him. Education, as he well knew, changes; and we must be wise enough to recognize which changes are the best for our students, teachers, and parents and which are not. It is easy to embrace something that looks good but may not stand the test of time. And it takes an objective, sensitive educator and person to know the difference. Fran Walsh was, and is, that kind of educator and person.
In the early 1970s, middle-school education was a daring and innovative concept. The school that resulted in Branford came about through collaboration with staff that allowed them to pilot programs, to travel to other schools, and to participate in the decision-making process. Team collaborators included veterans of more than twenty years and rookies with only a few years’ experience. Seniority made no difference to Fran as he introduced them to the team concept-both in planning and in teaching-and to a way of education that combined the best of the traditional ways, along with the constant changes that educational philosophy would undergo in the next three decades. The resulting system led to interdisciplinary teams, block scheduling, and the inclusion of applied arts, music, and physical education in every fifth through eighth grader’s program.
Branford quickly became a model for schools around the country and around the world to view when exploring new ways of educating middle-level students. In the first few years that the school was open, hardly a week went by that Fran wasn't offering tours to other educators wanting to learn from this model. In addition, he was often invited to speak to other school systems trying to solve the problems he had already overcome. For many years he served on the Middle Level Board of Control for the Connecticut Association of Schools and helped write the job descriptions for its first executive director of the Middle Level Schools.
Besides being an innovator, Fran Walsh is an educator at heart, and always advocated for his students and staff even when other administrators disagreed. Branford students always came first with him, then the teaching staff, then all the others (parents, support staff, community members) who made the school work like the finely tooled, people-friendly community that it was. Colleagues agree that even when he and they disagreed, they always knew that they had been heard and respected and that Fran valued their opinions as educators as well as people. They were always confident that in the end his decision was made in the best interest of the entire school community-not in the interest of one group over another.
For many years Fran served on the Human Services Board for the town and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Branford Community Foundation. He has recently completed three terms as Branford's Second Selectman.
When Fran retired in 1994, a way of education retired with him. Education, as he well knew, changes; and we must be wise enough to recognize which changes are the best for our students, teachers, and parents and which are not. It is easy to embrace something that looks good but may not stand the test of time. And it takes an objective, sensitive educator and person to know the difference. Fran Walsh was, and is, that kind of educator and person.