Mildred Frumento
Born to parents Edith and Seymour, Mildred is the oldest of four children, with brothers Michael and David and sister Bibi. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she completed her early education through high school.
Mildred’s first two years of college included extensive travel in the United States and Europe. She then enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University and worked as a child care worker at The Children’s Center in Hamden, Connecticut, a residential facility for at-risk adolescents. It was here where she found her true passion and knew where her professional journey would lead her.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education K-8, she was offered a teaching position at The Children’s Center. Federal and State Law PL 94-142 had just been passed, which guaranteed free and appropriate education for children with disabilities. With legislation, she was even more passionate as a teacher supporting her students with reading instruction, developing peer teaching models and implementing behavior management plans. She continued her teaching career in both Westbrook and Guilford Public Schools. For the next twenty-one years, Mildred worked at the Walsh Intermediate School as both teacher and Department Leader. She supported the learning styles of her students, individualized instruction and worked collaboratively with teachers within the inclusionary model. She led her department with a commitment to excellence and never stepped away from a challenge that would benefit her students. With her patience and caring demeanor, she built strong relationships with students, teacher, administrators and parents.
Bringing awareness to the whole child is another one of Mildred’s most admirable strengths. Recognizing the importance of character and core values, she helped create the Character Counts Program – a schoolwide initiative celebrating character traits of students. She also participated in Teachers as Friends, Peer Mediation and Project Adventure programs. Additionally, she coordinated professional development and led educational workshops. In 2007, her efforts and long-standing commitment to teaching were celebrated as she was named Branford’s “Teacher of the Year”.
With a Master of Science in Special Education and 6th Year in Educational Leadership, Mildred also shared her professional expertise with inspiring teachers. She was a portfolio scorer in the BEST program (Beginning Education Support and Training), an Adjunct Professor at Southern CT State University and the University of New Haven and a presenter at SERC (State Education Resource Center).
Of all her accomplishments, being a mother to Frank and Kristie, and now a grandmother to Robert and Carter, makes her most proud. Her son resides in London, England, with his significant other Katie, and works as a film trailer editor. Her daughter resides in West Haven with husband, Rob and balances her full-time job as mom with part-time work in Social Security Court.
Now retired after 33 years in education, Mildred is blessed with a rich, full life with Bruce Grenon in Stony Creek. Her days are filled with reading, gardening, yoga and connecting with friends. Together with Bruce, she also loves sailing and traveling to places as near to the beach and water as possible. Most importantly, they enjoy spending time with family and staying young at heart with five amazing grandsons. She is forever grateful for her family, friends and career journey in Branford.
Mildred’s first two years of college included extensive travel in the United States and Europe. She then enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University and worked as a child care worker at The Children’s Center in Hamden, Connecticut, a residential facility for at-risk adolescents. It was here where she found her true passion and knew where her professional journey would lead her.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education K-8, she was offered a teaching position at The Children’s Center. Federal and State Law PL 94-142 had just been passed, which guaranteed free and appropriate education for children with disabilities. With legislation, she was even more passionate as a teacher supporting her students with reading instruction, developing peer teaching models and implementing behavior management plans. She continued her teaching career in both Westbrook and Guilford Public Schools. For the next twenty-one years, Mildred worked at the Walsh Intermediate School as both teacher and Department Leader. She supported the learning styles of her students, individualized instruction and worked collaboratively with teachers within the inclusionary model. She led her department with a commitment to excellence and never stepped away from a challenge that would benefit her students. With her patience and caring demeanor, she built strong relationships with students, teacher, administrators and parents.
Bringing awareness to the whole child is another one of Mildred’s most admirable strengths. Recognizing the importance of character and core values, she helped create the Character Counts Program – a schoolwide initiative celebrating character traits of students. She also participated in Teachers as Friends, Peer Mediation and Project Adventure programs. Additionally, she coordinated professional development and led educational workshops. In 2007, her efforts and long-standing commitment to teaching were celebrated as she was named Branford’s “Teacher of the Year”.
With a Master of Science in Special Education and 6th Year in Educational Leadership, Mildred also shared her professional expertise with inspiring teachers. She was a portfolio scorer in the BEST program (Beginning Education Support and Training), an Adjunct Professor at Southern CT State University and the University of New Haven and a presenter at SERC (State Education Resource Center).
Of all her accomplishments, being a mother to Frank and Kristie, and now a grandmother to Robert and Carter, makes her most proud. Her son resides in London, England, with his significant other Katie, and works as a film trailer editor. Her daughter resides in West Haven with husband, Rob and balances her full-time job as mom with part-time work in Social Security Court.
Now retired after 33 years in education, Mildred is blessed with a rich, full life with Bruce Grenon in Stony Creek. Her days are filled with reading, gardening, yoga and connecting with friends. Together with Bruce, she also loves sailing and traveling to places as near to the beach and water as possible. Most importantly, they enjoy spending time with family and staying young at heart with five amazing grandsons. She is forever grateful for her family, friends and career journey in Branford.
Letters of Nomination
Mildred Frumento is a person of high integrity and one of the finest school educators of exceptional character that I have had the pleasure of working with, and learning from, during my professional career. It is with gratitude that I submit this letter of recognition in support of her nomination into Branford’s Education Hall of Fame. Working closely with Mildred during her 22-year tenure at WIS in her roles as Special Education Teacher and Department Leader, afforded her colleagues the opportunity to learn from the best, and absorb the qualities needed for outstanding teaching practices. Her wealth of knowledge in the area of Special Education was bottomless, as was her energy and conscientious work ethic. From her day to day multitasking, to partnering with teachers in the classroom, to working closely with administration, Mildred always saw the big picture and knew what needed to get done for the betterment of students and school practices. Mildred’s devotion and love of teaching were evidenced each and every day. She supported the learning styles of her students, individualized instruction, assessed student learning, and worked collaboratively with teachers to both deliver and differentiate instruction. She led her department with a commitment to excellence, and never stepped away from a challenge that would benefit students. With her patience and caring demeanor, she built strong and lasting relationships along the way with teachers, administrators, students, and parents. Just ask anyone! Bringing awareness to the whole child is another one of Mildred’s most admirable strengths. Recognizing the importance of character and core values, she helped create and implement the Character Counts Program at WIS- a school wide initiative to celebrate the character traits of all students. She also participated in several other programs that strengthened even more her commitment to the whole child –Teachers as Friends, Peer Mediation, and Project Adventure. In addition, Mildred’s countless involvement on committees and programs that supported school staff over the years cannot go unnoticed. She coordinated professional development activities for teachers, led educational workshops, supported student teachers, mentored, and worked closely with paraprofessionals in the building to name a few more of her dedicated roles. In 2007, her efforts and long standing commitment to teaching were celebrated as she was nominated as Branford’s Teacher of the Year. It has been an honor to recognize Mildred and share her many accomplishments as a Special Education Teacher in the Branford School System. Her dedication to quality education has made a difference in the lives of many, especially to her students. Thank you Mildred!