Beloved Rockledge teacher retires after 21 years By MATT ARMES Staff Writer
Frances Koontz has decided to leave her post at Rockledge Elementary School for one simple reason: time.
The popular fourth-grade teacher has chosen to retire at the end of the school year after 21 years of outstanding service to the school and hundreds of students and parents.
"It's not because of any one incident that I'm retiring," she said. "I've got a lot of family and grandchildren to spend time with and it's time."
Her retirement cements a career and a reputation that most teachers would envy. In addition to a master's degree in elementary education, Koontz holds membership in the National Council for the Social Studies and serves as a judge on the board of directors for the Black Saga African American Experience.
Her extensive resume also speaks to a devoted interest in the social and environmental sciences. In 1999, she was involved in the Maryland Governor's Academy of Science in Math and Technology, and she has also worked as a trainer and presenter for the Maryland Geographic Alliance Council of Economics.
"One of the highlights of my career would be planting bay grasses in the Chesapeake Bay for the past three years and watching children take ownership of their surroundings," she said.
Koontz went on to say that creating a wetland on school grounds and planting 130 trees were both wonderful experiences for her and her students.
"I was the science coordinator here for 14 years, and I do feel very strongly that the environment is our obligation," she added. "If I can impart that to our students, I feel I've done my job."
Her fellow colleagues certainly agree. Celia Beamon and Amy Vereb, also teachers at Rockledge, credited Koontz for her work in molding each academic subject into lessons that students could follow.
"She has brought different programs to our page, specifically the Journey North program," said Beamon, who has taught at the school for 10 years. Journey North is an international program that helps students study the migration of monarch butterflies.
"In the fall when the children get here, we get the caterpillars, tag them and later hear from Mexico when they've migrated there," she explained. "It brings the social studies and sciences alive for the kids."
Beamon, whose daughter also passed through Koontz's class, added, "She truly cares about the kids. She's enthusiastic, she's motivational … hard to use just one word to describe her."
Vereb, a first-grade teacher for nine years at Rockledge, praised Koontz for her leadership at the school, especially while serving as a mentor to Vereb.
"I had the privilege of observing her teaching strategies, and she is truly a student-centered teacher," Vereb said.
"She looks at hands-on ways that students can learn, and I think that's what makes her an important teacher. Her students take responsibility for their learning."
A few of Koontz's former students were quick to testify to her willingness to help them dive into their own interests.
"During the 2000 election, she introduced me to politics," said Thomas Senecal, a sophomore at Eleanor Roosevelt High School.
"She encouraged me to write letters to the Supreme Court justices to get them to rule in favor of Gore, and my mom and I both credit her with getting me started in politics, leading me to become more involved in the elections of 2004, 2006 and the current election."
Senecal added, "I will also always remember how fair she was, and how she made learning fun. To this day, she is still one of my favorite teachers I ever had."
Jacob Evans, a student at Samuel Ogle Middle School, said that Koontz inspired him to read and write through her own daily example.
"Every day after recess, Mrs. Koontz would let us get water and she would read to us," he said.
"In the third grade, she read some of the Chronicles of Narnia books to us. Then in fourth grade, she read some of Ronald Dhal's books like Fantastic Mr. Fox and the BFG, the Big Friendly Giant," he explained. "Those books really made me like reading and also were part of my inspiration to write."
Rockledge Principal Pamela Landry described Koontz as an "exceptional educator" with a genuine love for science and the environment.
"She has been recognized in the field of science, in environmental education and in social studies," Landry said. "She's the kind of teacher that continues learning, and she has made us very happy at the school."
Landry went on to say that Koontz plans to continue working with other science projects at the school, lending a hand to plant trees on Arbor Day along with several of the area's natural plants.
"She can integrate all subject matter together," added Landry, in her fourth year at Rockledge. "She's a really well-respected staff member."
"Integrating subjects is a form of teaching that's been out there for a little while," said Koontz, who will receive a citation from the office of state Sen. Douglas Peters.
"For a while, there was a school of thought that said that was the way to go," she added. "I've seen very positive results from it because it's very hands-on."
Koontz's three children went to Rockledge Elementary, Samuel Ogle Middle School and graduated from Bowie High School. One of her daughters teaches at Bowie High.
Landry also credited Koontz with assisting student enrollment, saying, "Many people have requested that their children have her as their teacher. There's no child she can't motivate or encourage. She is truly an exceptional educator."
"The people I've worked with have been very inspiring to me," Koontz said. "They've been a wonderful piece of joy in this work."
"When somebody like this is in our profession and has given so much to her school, she leaves Rockledge a better place, and we're truly grateful," Vereb added. "She's one of those people that students remember for a lifetime."
