Franklin honors teachers of year at reception

Gail Russell, Noah Jones (standing in for Matt Jones), Jeff Fonzo and Tina Carone, from left, accept their Teacher of the Year awards at a reception Thursday. (Contributed photo)

Franklin Area School District held its inaugural Teacher of the Year reception Thursday to recognize recipients from each of the four schools.

Teachers were nominated for the award by their fellow colleagues and voted on by their respective staff earlier this month. Criteria for the award were presented to faculty to vote on teachers who they felt possessed leadership in and out of the classroom.

Sandycreek Elementary’s teacher of the year was awarded to Tina Carone, a first grade teacher who has taught at multiple schools over her tenure here at Franklin.

Carone was nominated by a fellow teacher and parent who had positive words to say about her teaching and passion for helping her students, said Superintendent Pamela Dye.

Victory Elementary’s teacher of the year was Gail Russell, a third grade teacher who has been with the district for multiple years.

“Gail is an advocate for all children and has affected the lives of many children including my own,” said Dye.

Matt Jones, a physics teacher at the high school, has been with the district for 18 years.

His son, Noah Jones, a physical education teacher at Franklin, accepted the award on his behalf.

Jeff Fonzo, an art teacher at Central Elementary, was the final recipient for the award.

Fonzo has been teaching for 11 years.

“He is an active member of our Central staff and the students love the way he teaches and the projects they design,” Dye said.

Fonzo was also awarded the honor of Franklin Area School District’s Division Teacher of the Year. He will represent Franklin for Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year program.