Mrs. Putnam

As you enter the Fredonia Elementary School grounds, you notice that spring has sprung! Part of the beauty of this season is the blossoming of life and the renewal of student activity around the campus. As you drive toward the Elementary School, you may also notice the raised garden beds outside of many of the classroom windows. This initiative was begun several years ago, but has truly been maintained through the commitment and dedication of Mrs. Jill Putnam. Mrs. Putnam is a fourth-grade teacher at Fredonia Elementary School, and can often be seen outside with groups of students, digging in the dirt while planting flowers, researching different types of leaves and trees, or trying out new science experiments. Mrs. Putnam is the type of teacher who commits to the whole child. She connects with every student — having lunch with them, sharing books with them, just taking the time with them, individually, to get to know their strengths so they can build upon their weaknesses. Mrs. Putnam began a ‘Read across New York’ campaign this school year, which motivates students to track the books they read and using the words as mileage to ‘read across NY.’ The students receive badges as they reach each new city, which they proudly display on their lockers for the rest of the students to see. She recently began a ‘Citizen Science’ club (with Mrs. Janet Schmonsky) for fourth grade students to meet before school once/week. The students will be doing a citizen science project, helping to maintain the school gardens, and creating STEM projects and art. Mrs. Putnam is kind, thoughtful, sincere, and truly dedicated to the success of her students. She is truly an amazing educator. It is special people like Mrs. Putnam that make our school an amazing place for all students.