Meet Mrs. Franklin, our high school prep science and social studies teacher!

Mrs. Franklin - High School Prep

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What made you want to become a teacher? 
My dad is a Lutheran pastor and my mom is a Lutheran school teacher and principal. I’ve always been immersed in the world of teaching from day one. As a kid, I played school in the basement.

For a while, I thought I would teach political science, but I realized I didn’t want to teach that subject every single day. I then shifted gears to middle school education.

Was there a teacher growing up that inspired you, and why?
My mom. She was my teacher in fifth through eighth grade in various subjects. She definitely inspired me and we actually teach the same subjects. 

What do you especially like teaching within your subjects?
In science, I like teaching human biology because it shows how complicated God’s creation is. In terms of history, I love teaching about ancient Greece and Rome. 

​What did you miss the most about teaching in person during the stay-at-home order?
I missed the random things that happen in a day and the conversations that come up. I missed the stories that kids will come up with when you’re teaching about something. I missed the personal relationship aspect of teaching in person. 

What is the best advice you’ve received about teaching? 
Pick your battles and learn to laugh. 

What are you most looking forward to at the start of the school year? 
If you had asked me this last December, I would’ve told you that I was excited to utilize our cool new furniture and test different arrangements that work for the kids. With COVID-19, we won’t be able to do any of that now. 

I’m excited to teach the incoming sixth graders. I’m also always excited to see how the incoming seventh and eighth graders have grown over the summer. 

What do you like about St. John’s? 
I love the family feel in the school. I also love working with Mrs. Runge and Mr. Benedict, the other high school prep teachers. We have the same philosophy about teaching and approach things the same way. We are all similar in how we interact with the kids but we balance each other out well too.