Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Meeks

*Student Monitor*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak

February 11, 2022

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight (part two) is Mrs. Fran Meeks! Mrs. Meeks has been working in the Brooklyn City School District for 16 years. She started her very first year in 2006 and has spent the majority of her time working as a Student Monitor and assisting in Special Education. This year, she has been working with our new BDLA program for high school students. If you know Mrs. Meeks, you know her humorous personality, compassion, and very loud laugh.

Q: Who or what inspired you to work as a student monitor?

A: “Honestly, I just kind of did this on my own. When I was asked to do something, I just did what they asked me to do, and here I am.”

Q: What is your favorite part about working at Brooklyn High School?

A: “Definitely the kids, I love working with them. I’m kind of like the ‘school mommy’; everyone kind of knows they can come to me if they need me. A lot of kids seem to feel comfortable talking to me about their situations and telling me personal things to relieve themselves of whatever is overwhelming them.”

Q: What is your favorite memory working as a BHS employee?

A: “Probably my son’s senior year. My son went to school here and just watching him all through his senior year and seeing him do things I knew he would do for the last time was bittersweet.”

Q: In your opinion, what impact have you made on your students?

A: “I guess that the kids just know that I’m here for them when they need me. I’m very supportive, and a lot of kids who know me seem to feel comfortable enough with me to come and talk to me about what is going on in their life. I’ve had a lot of kids ‘come out’ to me because they felt safe sharing that part of their life with me. My son is actually gay, so when these kids ‘come out’ to me, it kind of hits home. All around, I’m supportive.”

Q: Describe your family. 

A: “Well, there are only four of us. I’m married, and my husband is a truck driver. I have two sons, one is 43 and my other son is 29. My oldest son works in assisting for a nursing home. My family and I have also lived in Brooklyn for 20+ years, but after my kids moved out, it has just been my husband and me.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

A: “It would have to be my son. I mentioned this before, but my son is gay. I give him a lot of credit for being so brave to come out as gay knowing how scary that can be for anyone. Knowing this, I knew that I had to be there for my child, regardless.”

Q: What is something that you have yet to do in life?

A: “Go to Hawaii. I really want to go and visit there. I also want to go to Disney World. I am probably the biggest Mickey Mouse fan, ever. My hall pass is even Mickey Mouse. I’ve been on the Disney Cruise, but I really want to go Disney in Florida.”

Q: In your free time, what are your hobbies?

A: “Honestly, I don’t really have too many hobbies. I’m a homebody; I love being at home. I typically go home after work and watch TV because I love reality shows. My favorite shows are the ones on TLC. I also really love Hallmark. But aside from being at home, I go to Columbus to see my son once in a while.”

Thank you so much for allowing us to interview you, Mrs. Meeks. You are such a sweet and compassionate woman.  

Also, Mr. Holko said good luck with BINGO.