Fran Denote

Fran Denote ’04 returned to Renbrook in 2021 as an Upper School English teacher, reconnecting with the community that shaped her as a student in the Class of 2004. She earned her B.A. in English from Colby College and her M.Ed. from Lesley University, and has taught in a variety of settings, including Brookwood School in Massachusetts, Greens Farms Academy in Connecticut, and summer academic and enrichment programs. Today, she teaches English 7 and English 8, serves as Grade 7 Coordinator, co-advises the Yearbook, coordinates the Upper School Writing Lab, and coaches JV Tennis.

Education is both a heritage and a vocation for Fran. As the child and grandchild of teachers, she grew up immersed in independent school life. Her parents began teaching at Renbrook in 1982, and now her own children attend the school, making it a deeply generational community for her family. She believes that exceptional teaching requires a balance of innate passion and continual refinement. Lifelong learning, innovation, and relationship building are central to her philosophy.

Fran is deeply committed to differentiated and active learning. She believes students learn best when they are intrigued, challenged, and invited into the material through multiple pathways. In her classroom, literature becomes interactive and personal. She strives to find each student’s way in, whether that means transforming poetry into performance, engaging in rich discussion, or creating multimodal projects that honor different strengths and intelligences. She believes education extends beyond academics into social and emotional growth, and she works intentionally to build trust and confidence with every student.

As Grade 7 Coordinator, she leads programming that supports students’ social and emotional development and academic growth. She also oversees initiatives such as Poetry Out Loud for eighth graders and helps facilitate meaningful shared experiences, such as Camp Jewell. She finds the relationships she builds with students to be the most rewarding part of her work.

Fran loves that Renbrook is a vibrant, collaborative community committed to knowing and loving each child and partnering closely with families. She values working alongside colleagues who share a deep commitment to excellence and care. Outside of school, she enjoys tennis, skiing, reading, traveling, hiking, camping, and spending time with her husband, their two boys, and their dog. A fun fact about Fran Is that in college, she sang in an all-female a cappella group called the Sirens. She is guided by Eleanor Roosevelt’s words, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do,” a reminder she shares with her students as they grow into confident thinkers and writers.