Franklin’s new Interim Principal Elaine Harold’s favorite
memory of elementary school was when she had a chance to act as the teacher in
third grade. Ms. Masero is who inspired her
to become an educator. Born and raised
in Massachusetts, Elaine grew up in Somerville and attended UMass Amherst after
graduating from Somerville High School.
She obtained her master’s degree from Lesley College. Elaine raised her three children in Melrose
and is now the proud grandma of four grandbabies – Sadie, Baylor, Hunter and
Reagan.
She began her teaching career in Melrose with first graders and then went on to teach fourth and fifth grade in Woburn. For twenty years, Elaine served as an elementary
school principal – three years in Beverly and seventeen years in
Wellesley. While she has enjoyed her
entire career, her proudest achievement professionally is to see that the programs
she implemented in Wellesley have lived on beyond her retirement and are now
institutionalized.
At the Franklin, her overarching goals are to support everyone
and to continue the good work put in place by former principal Amy Kelly. Elaine brings a great wealth of experience and
knowledge to the Franklin. Her biggest
strengths are her ability to remain calm and not overreact, to actively listen,
to be very supportive, and her sense of humor.
When Elaine is not at school, she is an avid reader and
belongs to a book club. Her most recent
reads are A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
– a difficult read about the atrocities of war – and The Lost Wife. She intersperses
her more serious, challenging reads with her favorite author, Jodi Picoult. She also loves to decorate cookies and cakes.
Elaine considers herself to be incredibly fortunate. She has professionally had the opportunity to
work in many schools and she now is loving her life as a grandma.
Fun facts:
·
If you could sing one song on American Idol what
would it be? “Say Something” by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera.
·
If you were on an island and could only bring three
things what would they be? My family,
books, a solar oven to cook with and a sewing machine to make everyone’s
clothes.
·
You’re a new addition to the crayon box.
What color would you be and why?
Yellow because it’s cheerful, bright and optimistic.
·
If there was a movie produced about your life,
who would play you and why? Meryl Streep would, because of her skilled versatility. She would be able to portray all the facets of my life: the joyfulness, the challenges and the quirkiness.
Welcome to the Franklin, Elaine! We are looking forward to getting to know you.
