Paul Freund
Paul Freund was born in East Orange, New Jersey, and moved to Branford before he was a year old. His parents, Raymond and Doris Freund, remained in Branford for the rest of their lives and always touted Branford as a wonderful place to raise a family. They always believed in the importance of education and had a huge impact on his thoughts about education. His older brother, Peter, also worked in education at the University of Toronto.
Paul went through the Branford School System and graduated in 1973. He was on the basketball and baseball teams for all four years of high school. He went to Eastern Connecticut State College and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Elementary Education and minors in Math and Psychology. He began his teaching career in the fall of 1977 at Branford Intermediate School when Francis Walsh hired him to teach 6th grade math on Team 5. He taught science. While he was at the Intermediate School, Paul began coaching baseball and girls’ basketball and went on to be the varsity baseball coach at the High School. After becoming a certified high school math teacher, Paul began teaching at Branford High School.
He spent the remaining thirty years of his career there. Paul taught a wide range of students and courses, including Trigonometry, Basic Geometry, Math for Daily Living and Calculus.
During his career, Paul was active working with the Branford Education Association as a negotiator and grievance chairperson and served on committees at the Connecticut Education Association. He also was able to do post graduate work in computer science, guidance counseling and studied geology in France and Yellowstone Nation Park.
Paul is married to Kari Faticone, a Branford High graduate, after being set up on a date by Fran Walsh’s secretary, Susan Vogel. He continued to coach until his first daughter, Lindsay, was a year old and he then gave it up to be able to spend more time with her and then his other daughter, Ashley. Paul returned to coach the 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball team when Lindsay, who was on the team, told him the coach was leaving. He spent the next twelve years, until his retirement, coaching the team which included Ashley for two years. Lindsay and Ashley both went to Branford High School where they were accomplished athletes. Lindsay was an all-state and all-area gymnast and Ashley was an all-area softball player. Lindsay is a Certified Nurse Anesthetist and is married to David DeGrasse. They have two sons. Ashley is a Registered Nurse and teaches nursing. She is married to Nick Mauro and they have a daughter.
After retiring, Paul was fortunate enough to help and be with his father during his remaining years. Now, he gets to take care of and be with his three grandchildren because, you guessed it, they live in Branford. So, to say Paul has a connection with Branford Education might be an understatement. In conclusion, Paul can honestly say he has many great memories and has had the honor of working with many outstanding people and definitely has no regrets.
Paul went through the Branford School System and graduated in 1973. He was on the basketball and baseball teams for all four years of high school. He went to Eastern Connecticut State College and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Elementary Education and minors in Math and Psychology. He began his teaching career in the fall of 1977 at Branford Intermediate School when Francis Walsh hired him to teach 6th grade math on Team 5. He taught science. While he was at the Intermediate School, Paul began coaching baseball and girls’ basketball and went on to be the varsity baseball coach at the High School. After becoming a certified high school math teacher, Paul began teaching at Branford High School.
He spent the remaining thirty years of his career there. Paul taught a wide range of students and courses, including Trigonometry, Basic Geometry, Math for Daily Living and Calculus.
During his career, Paul was active working with the Branford Education Association as a negotiator and grievance chairperson and served on committees at the Connecticut Education Association. He also was able to do post graduate work in computer science, guidance counseling and studied geology in France and Yellowstone Nation Park.
Paul is married to Kari Faticone, a Branford High graduate, after being set up on a date by Fran Walsh’s secretary, Susan Vogel. He continued to coach until his first daughter, Lindsay, was a year old and he then gave it up to be able to spend more time with her and then his other daughter, Ashley. Paul returned to coach the 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball team when Lindsay, who was on the team, told him the coach was leaving. He spent the next twelve years, until his retirement, coaching the team which included Ashley for two years. Lindsay and Ashley both went to Branford High School where they were accomplished athletes. Lindsay was an all-state and all-area gymnast and Ashley was an all-area softball player. Lindsay is a Certified Nurse Anesthetist and is married to David DeGrasse. They have two sons. Ashley is a Registered Nurse and teaches nursing. She is married to Nick Mauro and they have a daughter.
After retiring, Paul was fortunate enough to help and be with his father during his remaining years. Now, he gets to take care of and be with his three grandchildren because, you guessed it, they live in Branford. So, to say Paul has a connection with Branford Education might be an understatement. In conclusion, Paul can honestly say he has many great memories and has had the honor of working with many outstanding people and definitely has no regrets.
Letters of Nomination
Paul Freund has devoted his life to public education. He served the Town of Branford as a math teacher (BHS WIS), athletic coach (basketball – BHS WIS) and (baseball – BHS). Paul served his fellow teachers as a member of the BEA Negotiating Team (Chief Negotiator).
Perhaps Paul’s greatest contribution to teaching/learning was his great strength in reaching a wide variety of students. He continually demonstrated his extraordinary ability to engage all levels of students. He connected with all of his students and was particularly adept at engaging students who were struggling. His mastery of math combined with ability to make the subject matter relevant was a hallmark of his teaching. Paul’s wit and his remarkable skills to listen to his students caused him to be a very popular teacher. His style was to talk with his students as opposed to talking to his classes.
As a coach, Paul was very successful. He coached a number of highly skilled athletes and as many athletes who possessed limited athletic skills. His approach was the same for everyone. He showed respect, applauded effort as being primary to achievement, communicated warmth and good humor, All of this and more, caused his athletes and teams to know great success and enjoy much happiness in athletic competition while learning many life’s most important lessons like cooperation and diligence in the pursuit of a common goal. Paul was as much a father to his athletes as a coach.
Paul’s contribution to his colleagues is well known and respected. Many times when contentious issues developed for the faculty, Paul’s calming and wise voice turned potentially divisive days into collaborative efforts to promote the well-being of the faculty. He was regularly contacted by teachers who desired his views about developing issues.
It was the highly respected demeanor and his strength to find compromise were his forte as a BEA negotiator. His calm approach in this realm fostered an atmosphere of reason base compromise.
Daily, Paul brought excellence into his classroom and daily provided a professional based approach to fostering growth for the faculty of Branford High School.
Much of which Paul brought to his teaching are attributes that are common to teachers. In Paul these attributes were used daily in excellence to contribute to his students and colleagues. His work was an exemplar for all and that is why he is so respected and admired. Without question, Paul Freund deserves to be inducted into Branford’s Education Hall of Fame.
Perhaps Paul’s greatest contribution to teaching/learning was his great strength in reaching a wide variety of students. He continually demonstrated his extraordinary ability to engage all levels of students. He connected with all of his students and was particularly adept at engaging students who were struggling. His mastery of math combined with ability to make the subject matter relevant was a hallmark of his teaching. Paul’s wit and his remarkable skills to listen to his students caused him to be a very popular teacher. His style was to talk with his students as opposed to talking to his classes.
As a coach, Paul was very successful. He coached a number of highly skilled athletes and as many athletes who possessed limited athletic skills. His approach was the same for everyone. He showed respect, applauded effort as being primary to achievement, communicated warmth and good humor, All of this and more, caused his athletes and teams to know great success and enjoy much happiness in athletic competition while learning many life’s most important lessons like cooperation and diligence in the pursuit of a common goal. Paul was as much a father to his athletes as a coach.
Paul’s contribution to his colleagues is well known and respected. Many times when contentious issues developed for the faculty, Paul’s calming and wise voice turned potentially divisive days into collaborative efforts to promote the well-being of the faculty. He was regularly contacted by teachers who desired his views about developing issues.
It was the highly respected demeanor and his strength to find compromise were his forte as a BEA negotiator. His calm approach in this realm fostered an atmosphere of reason base compromise.
Daily, Paul brought excellence into his classroom and daily provided a professional based approach to fostering growth for the faculty of Branford High School.
Much of which Paul brought to his teaching are attributes that are common to teachers. In Paul these attributes were used daily in excellence to contribute to his students and colleagues. His work was an exemplar for all and that is why he is so respected and admired. Without question, Paul Freund deserves to be inducted into Branford’s Education Hall of Fame.