Shining a Light on . . . Elizabeth Frank
14 Apr, 2021
Mrs. Elizabeth Frank has been a member of the SAA-SDS Junior High faculty for 13 years and is currently teaching 7th grade Life Science. Please take a moment to get to know her a little better and learn what makes our Junior High structure and our science curriculum so dynamic.
What do you enjoy about teaching at St. Agnes-St. Dominic?
I enjoy teaching in one of the few co-ed environments on campus. I truly believe that, in the Lower School, our students learn how to express their knowledge and their questions because they feel so comfortable in the single-gender classrooms for so many years. They truly find “their voice”. It is inspiring to me to see students in my classroom have the confidence to express themselves, no matter the grouping of students.
What makes the science curriculum at SAA-SDS unique?
One thing that is unique about the Lower School science curriculum is the purposeful thought that has been put into planning the content that is taught from grade level to grade level. Once a student experiences Kindergarten through 8th grade at SAA-SDS they have been exposed to every branch of science (life, physical, earth, space) and experienced a wealth of STEM competencies, such as robotics, coding, engineering, design thinking, problem-solving, working in teams to solve problems, creativity, and innovation.
What are some of the ways you bring lessons to life?
Covering fascinating topics and having the use of technology at your fingertips is a huge benefit because as teachers we are able to create lessons and activities that meet the learning styles of all our students- visual, auditory, kinesthetic. The use of technology in my classroom has transformed the way I teach because I am now able to use alternative forms of assessments instead of unit tests. I now teach using Project-Based Learning approach. Every unit is assessed with a large group project. Every unit has a project that is a different format and has different requirements so that students do not get bored with doing the same things.
What do you hope students take away from your classes?
My hope is that they see the world through a new lens and have the desire and curiosity to continue to learn about the natural world. I hope they continue to examine how and why things happen the way they do and that they have a new curiosity about things they observe.
How do the Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community and Service inspire life at SAA-SDS?
Every aspect of how lessons are presented and the content that students learn are reflections of these Four Pillars. For example, in my Life Science class we discuss how and why plants perform photosynthesis, which always leads us to the topic of food production around the world and why some countries do not have enough food. This content ties into the Pillars of Community and Service, which mirrors the social justice topics studied through the 7th grade Religion curriculum.
You were named a National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Teacher of the Future and were chosen to work on the BrainPop Standards for Movies Alignment Project. How did these experiences impact you as an educator?
Being named as one of the Teachers of the Future from NAIS was an exceptional honor and what I learned from being in that yearlong cohort of educators truly transformed the way that I teach.Getting such a close look at state and national science standards for the BrainPop project inspired some new lessons and activities for my classes. I am a firm believer in being a lifelong learner, and being a part of this project was definitely an amazing learning experience.
What are your interests outside of the classroom? What are you particularly passionate about?
Outside of school, I love spending time with my family and friends at the lake. Boating is one of my favorite warm weather activities. I also love taking the time to snuggle up and read a good book or needlepoint.
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