Fran Fruzen

Fran Fruzen with Morgan students and Principal Hanson during construction of Fruzen Intermediate

So, Who Is This Mr. Fran Fruzen?

Francis J. Fruzen has always been a teacher at heart. Before officially beginning his teaching career, he served in the 7th Armored Division of the United States Army. That first year, in 1952, the Korean War was winding down and he was able to enter as a 2nd Lieutenant due to ROTC training at St. Norbert’s. He had a knack for teaching and served as a Training Company Commander, providing general training for new recruits.

It was this training of new recruits that Fruzen says cemented his interest in teaching. He recalls helping guys who “didn’t know the first thing about real life.” He wanted to make a difference in the futures of the young men and enjoyed the work.

After leaving the army in April of 1954 with an Honorable Discharge as a 1st Lieutenant, Fruzen worked at the post office while researching open teaching positions. He received a request to teach and coach at St. Mary’s in Menasha that fall for an annual salary of $2,700. After the second year, he decided to pursue a Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

Introduction to the School District of Beloit

During this time, he received a call from Joe Rhodes, Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Beloit at the time. He remembers it took three calls from Rhodes to convince Fran to come down for an interview, and was hired for the fall of 1954 as a history/social studies teacher at the high school for $3000. He remembers thinking of the salary, “Wow, that’s pretty good!”. Even better than the salary, though, he found Beloit to be a “bustling, booming” city. There were several chances to move, always at a bad time when he was beginning new projects. Next thing he know, 50 years had gone by. And he has never regretted it.

Times have changed greatly during that period. He really became involved in teacher politics in 1970, working on implementing teacher rights. They did not have the right to negotiate at the time, and strikes were breaking out all over the state. He helped establish negotiation processes between educators and administrators. He was so involved with promoting such rights that he rose to become President of the Wisconsin Educators Association in 1972.

Fran Fruzen & President John F. Kennedy – 1960

John F. Kennedy & Personal Advocacy

One highlight from the political activity was meeting John F. Kennedy. This was towards the beginning of his involvement in teacher politics, and negotiations were half-heartedly being done at the time, with Fran’s presence on the negotiation team meant to bring more transparency to Beloit Educators Association members. Kennedy was running for presidency at the time and was set to campaign at the UAW in Janesville. A group of teachers decided to go hear from the then Senator, and had a chance to personally meet Kennedy and his wife. When asked what he did, Fruzen responded humbly, “I’m just a teacher.” Kennedy responded with a lecture on how teaching is one of the most important jobs in the world, he remembers with a laugh. He received another thrilling moment when he received a call later in the election year from Sarg Schriver, asking him how the campaign was going in Beloit. Wisconsin was pivotal to the election that year.

When asked what he thought of the educational climate now, Fruzen is saddened. He feels much of Act 10 (the stage budget for 2011-2013) unraveled his work to establish negotiating teams. Before his work, it was all strikes and hard feelings. He notes the rights were taken away without demands by districts. Though he notes the Beloit school board, while not official, is still good with working with staff groups, the damage done by Act 10 will “come back to haunt us”.

Social revolution was also going on for civil rights early in his teaching career, a cause he dove into from the beginning. Many long nights were spent at Beloit College, where he acted as a liaison between students there and the school district. The District did not have black history classes, nor such books in the library. With approval from administration, he was given $200 to go to Madison to buy some books about black history. He also helped establish a class on black history, leading to hiring more minorities. This was a start, and he recalls the district always struggling to recruit and maintain minority hires.

In 1972, after the leave of absence to serve WEA, Fruzen came right back to Beloit with an offer for a principalship. He chose an assistant principal position at Beloit Memorial High School. Since then, he has not stopped being an active force in Beloit education. He even tried retiring a few times.

Fran Fruzen | Induction of Gene Van Galder to Hall of Fame

Attempts At Retirement

When he first retired in 1990, in his own time, he helped implement the first alternative ed school at an old Family Dollar building (rent-free from city), and recruited practice teachers from Beloit College to teach there. He was even able to find leftover caps and gowns for the first 7 graduates. The program moved to the 3rd floor of the Kolak Education Center, when he felt administration was truly buying into the program.

The second time he retired was in the mid to late 1990’s, when he was again called back. He headed up the high school for a year when Principal Jim Fitzpatrick left, as well as supervised the Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program through 2004.

While he has retired for good, he is still working. He helps coordinate the annual Beloit Memorial High School Hall of Fame Ceremony, which he established in 1994. He began the program because he wanted kids to see that if they work hard and do well, they can be successful, noting this was as important as the process of honoring the alumni. “This last one, as an example, Gene Van Galder did an excellent job in engaging students. We’ve had folks from all walks of life: Stephanie Klett, Michael White: nice assortment of people that can relate to kids,” he explains.
When asked what he is most proud of, a few things come to mind. First, Fruzen mentions the joy of staying with a class as an assistant principal at the high school, explaining how you get to know the students pretty well that way. Some of the programs he started such as a blood drive campaign to get the most pints of blood donated for the Guiness Book of Records is remembered. While they didn’t get into Guiness, the students did set a state record for a high school that donated the most pints of blood in one day! He recalls always looking for ways to engage students like that.

Continued Advocacy for Others

He is also proud of his work to encourage the district to recognize the importance of minority recognition, the Alternative Education program, the Alumni Scholarship program, Hall of Fame ceremony, and First Offenders for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse at Beloit Memorial High School. In that program, instead of expelling first offenders, students could take classes to learn more about the dangers of AODA in exchange for no ticket and no expulsion. A similar program was started for smoking: if the student took classes on dangers of smoking, the ticket was nullified. Before the programs, over 100 kids were being suspended or expelled for alcohol or smoking. These successful programs had very low recidivism rates. People across the state would come to Beloit to learn more about them.

Finally, Fruzen’s highlight reel would be incomplete without noting the birth of the Purple Knight. Before 1957, Beloit Memorial High School students were just called the “Stateliners”. He recognized the need for a mascot to rally around and involved students in deciding on one. The result was the Purple Knight which still proudly represents BMHS today.

2012 Facilities Referendum

The new Fruzen School is part of the April 2012 Faclities Referendum which added on to 7 schools, included a new building, and upgrades to several high school sporting areas such as the pool and tennis courts. Fruzen recognized the referendum as a turning point for the community. “When I worked on the Imagine Beloit committee for the bond issue, I really emphasized what this means to the community. If we turned it down, it would send a message of ‘we don’t believe in education’”.

He remembers doing presentations nights and weekends to help pass the referendum, knowing how important this was to the vitality of Beloit. “This fits in my philosophy: I always believe we have an obligation to give something back to your community, your profession and your faith. My resume shows I have tried to do this. It’s not just a responsibility, but an obligation. When you reach the stage in life when you can give back, that’s when you’re the happiest.“ He saw this in action when he established the alternative education school. An expelled student came to the program with a surly attitude. One part of the education program, giving back, was for students to volunteer in different places. One of those times, students went to a senior center for a half day. “This kid came back next day, saying, “Mr. Fruzen! Someone needed me! This is the first time someone needed me! This guy needed help getting to the dining hall and I helped him!’ That turned him around. These are the kind of rewards I had.” Fruzen will see former students approach him, asking if he remembers them, noting the impact he’s had on their lives. He didn’t realize at the time how much of a difference he had made, and says it is simply heartwarming to see.

To have a building named after him never dawned on him. When asked to submit his resume (which is over 5 pages long), Fruzen still did not think he would be chosen. “It’s a huge honor to have something living/breathing and connected with kids, my life’s work, with my name.” However, he says his wife, Marilyn, deserves half of every recognition he has received, noting she has always supported him 100%.

A Green Bay native, Fruzen remembers watching the Packers practice at City Stadium – a major inspiration for a young football players. What is he looking forward to now? “Someday I’m going to drive by the building, roll down the window and ask someone ‘What’s the name of this building?’. They’ll say, ‘Fruzen.’ That would be a thrill!”

A Final Note For Moms

When asked how mothers of young children can help their kids succeed, he says the most important thing is to be a mom every minute you’re home. Even after coming home from work tired, he asks moms to talk to their kids. Work with them. Appreciate them.

He names his own mother as his role model, and how he never wanted to disappoint her. “Kids need to feel needed and wanted – that is the key. If they’re not getting that at home, that is when they look for it elsewhere, like gangs. That’s why this is so important. The other things will fall into place.

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