FIRM, FAIR, CARING, AND FUN

A conversation with Lois Fruen

» Curriculum Director, preschool–grade 12 1995-2015

» Director, Advanced Science Research Program 1997–2015

» Upper School Academic Dean 1987–1995

» Science Department Head 1978–2015

» Chemistry Teacher 1975–2009

Lois Fruen was a fixture at Breck for 40 years. Hardworking and diligent, she dedicated herself to her students, encouraging them to push their boundaries to learn more than they ever thought they could. Within the Science Department, which she was fervently dedicated to, and across the entire school, Fruen worked tirelessly to lift up her students and colleagues.

Fruen’s impact can still be seen today through the curriculum she helped develop, the programs she nurtured — most notably the Advanced Science Research Program — and the culture of academic excellence that she perpetuated. Breck students continue to thrive today because of her innumerable contributions.

It’s hard to distill 40 years of service to Breck into a few words, but what do you see as your legacy at Breck today?

The Advanced Science Research Program is a legacy. I’m very proud of that. Head of School Samuel Salas brought all the department heads together to ask what we were doing, and I was the Science Department Head at the time. After I told him what we were doing, he looked at me and said, “Is that enough? How are you meeting the needs of those kids who really need a challenge?” We had AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Physics. But I took it back to the department, and we talked about whether that was enough. Our department then came up with the Advanced Science Research Program.

The program went through many teachers in the department before me. I didn’t want to take it at first, but I was glad to do it. When teaching the Advanced Science Research class, I really got to know my students because I spent a lot of time with them, helping them with their papers and their presentations. It was the best thing I’ve ever done.

When I was curriculum director, Mr. Salas charged me with writing a multicultural curriculum for every grade and every subject, which I did. I also played a critical role in the multicultural initiative at Breck and the one-to-one laptop program. Today, every student has a calculator as well as a personal laptop, and I was helpful in making that happen. So I’m also very proud of that.

When you first started at Breck, you were the only woman in the Upper School Science Department. How did you work to pave the way for other women leaders to be successful at Breck?

When I started, I didn’t really notice there were no other women in the Science Department because all I was doing was trying to keep up! It was a lot of work. But there were a number of strong women in the school at that time, like Kathryn Harper, who was then Upper School Division Director.

But I did try to support and encourage women as much as I possibly could. I did it through grant writing and getting them money to do what they wanted to do that made their programs so much better. I wrote over $3 million in grants and award applications for teachers, both women and men.

When I was academic dean, I spent a lot of time helping female students find their voice. I worked with two young women who put on the first “Awareness Day,” which today is called the MLK Symposium. They were able to put that on with my help. Another set of women initiated an environmental club with my help. We also started a Gold Key Club and brought in some really powerful women speakers (and also men) and politicians and began building an awareness for what was going on in terms of environmental justice and societal justice.

Why did you choose to stay at Breck for so many years?

Breck was continuously changing. It was like I was working in a different place every five years! It changed all the time, and it was good change for the most part. I think it kept me busy and interested and challenged. I liked the challenge.

Breck also gave us funds to do amazing things. I took a sabbatical for a year where I studied the science of archaeology and ancient science in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. I was able to go to China for the first China Association of Science and Technology. I was able to present my curriculum at the University of Moscow. In China, I worked for five weeks with Chinese chemistry teachers. It was amazing. Breck was amazing. I don’t know of any other schools that provide that kind of support for teachers.

I also have to acknowledge my students. They were amazing. My motto was firm, fair, caring, and fun. So that’s what my classes were about. I set high expectations — really high expectations — and asked my students to do more than they thought they could do. And they did. I think they found something in themselves through my classes. I was also there for them before and after school, during lunch, and during their free periods because I cared. I liked the kids, and the kids liked me. So I think that’s another reason why I stayed at Breck so long. B