Greenacres Remembers Ellen Frantz

Ellen Frantz, a longtime kindergarten teacher at the Greenacres Elementary School, passed away on December 20, 2012 at age 70. Frantz and her husband Steven were both educators in Scarsdale, where he served as the Principal of Fox Meadow Elementary School until his retirement in 2006. Steve and Ellen met when they were both teaching at Edgewood Elementary School and their daughter Amber is also in the family business, currently teaching third grade at the Heathcote Elementary School.

Ellen taught kindergarten in the district for 41 years, most of those at Greenacres where she was a favorite among teachers, parents and students. She had an extra large classroom with a fireplace where kids gathered round to hear stories and share.

We spoke to a few of her colleagues at Greenacres about Ellen and here is what they said:

Teacher-in-Charge Cindy Sansone, a long-term staffer at the school said, "Ellen was a devoted kindergarten teacher who constantly worked on revamping and improving the kindergarten curriculum. Ellen was always current. She affectionately called her students gooseberries."

Deb Krisanda a colleague of Frantz who has taught at Greenacres for many years said, "Ellen was always about the children - she loved their company and learned from them as she endeavored to open their hearts and minds to LIFE ... through stories, art, nature and mathematical problems to be pondered and solved throughout the day! She cared about all of their selves ... who and how they were intellectually, emotionally, and socially! To me, Ellen was a mentor and friend who truly inspired me to be the best teacher I could possibly be!"

Helene Quirk, a kindergarten teacher at the school sent us the following, "Ellen Frantz was a dedicated and wonderful kindergarten teacher who I worked alongside with for about nine years prior to her retirement. Ellen was the kind of teacher who was extremely passionate about her work and I learned a great deal about teaching kindergarten from her. She had an amazing ability to reach her students and meet their individual needs. Ellen believed in engaging her students in projects that were creative and meaningful as well as challenging and fun. She adored her students and they adored and looked up to her. Ellen was so good at what she did that she made it look easy. To this day, some of my favorite projects are the ones Ellen had shared with me during the years we worked together. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work and learn from Ellen. She was a master of her craft."

Nancy Closter, Greenacre's art teacher added, "I was sorry to hear of Ellen's passing. She was a wonderful, loving, kind teacher. I remember children always sitting on her lap or by her side. They felt so secure with her. She was a wonderful listener and had the best advice about life, a true treasure to the Greenacres faculty."

A memorial/celebration is scheduled for January 25 at 5:00 p.m. at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club 14 Wayside Lane, Scarsdale.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT.

Share your recollections of Ellen Frantz below: