Episode 1401

FM #1401 - 2 Franklin High School Teachers - 03/03/25

Published on: 11th March, 2025

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri and Katherine Kellett, both teachers at Franklin High School. We had our conversation at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, March  3, 2025.  

Katherine Kellett, Teacher - English

Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri, Teacher - World Language

  • We cover their road to Franklin and FHS
  • We talk about the joy in teaching
  • And the issues faced with continued budget cuts
  • Only one language to be offered at the middle school
  • Reduces the total of language classes High School graduates can carry forward to college
  • Text book & curriculum cuts challenge the appropriate delivery of curriculum
  • Loss of shared intellectual capital with colleagues cut due to budget
  • Language lab is a resource heavily utilized and will no longer available (per budget)
  • Struggle to attract and retain substitute teachers
  • Ripple effects for curriculum coverage that is lost and how that affects students and the next year’s teachers for that subject

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Leah and Katherine on teaching in challenging budget times

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Franklin High School page -> https://www.franklinps.net/o/fhs 

Franklin School District budget page -> FY 2026 https://www.franklinps.net/documents/about-us/school-district-budget/fy2026-budget/728831 

Joint budget listening sessions archive -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html 

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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About the Podcast

Franklin Matters Radio
Information for the community because Franklin matters
What matters in Franklin MA - we follow the money sharing Town & School meetings, community events, and interviews to enable an informed resident & voter

About your host

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Stephen Sherlock

I volunteer as the Community Information Director for Franklin, MA (USA)*. I have been providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin since 2007. Currently working in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019.

*They don't have one and couldn't afford me.