Educator Spotlight: Hart and Malames

 

RENEE HART

As the school psychologist at Franklin School of Opportunity, Renee Hart sees her focus on student wellness as just one part of a team effort dedicated to supporting students in every way possible.

“Collaboration is huge,” says Renee, who regularly consults with parents, teachers, administration, and students to find the best solution for any struggling students. “All of these pieces working together is important.” 

Renee, who serves students at Lakewood High and Garfield as well, heavily relies on the Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of empathy in the process of building trusted relationships with students. Says FSO principal Terri Elwell-Bornino: “Renee exhibits a strong commitment to student well-being, consistently demonstrating compassion and a desire to make things better. She goes above and beyond to seek out resources and support systems to help improve student situations.”

Renee believes students deserve a voice in working out issues and makes sure that they feel included in the process. “I like to be up front and honest with them that they are part of the team and we can problem-solve together,” says Renee.

Renee practices the Vision competency of growth mindset by seeking out opportunities to learn new strategies, often through professional development courses. She also grows her skills through her membership on the Western Cuyahoga County School Counseling Crisis Team.

Renee’s commitment to serving the whole child is evident in her leadership at FSO and Garfield with the ROX girl group, which aims to empower girls to be confident and self-assured, and learn tools to help them successfully navigate a complex world. It’s just one example of Renee’s continuous commitment to helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.

 

JOSH MALAMES

Josh Malames landed the science teacher job at Franklin School of Opportunity (then Lakewood City Academy) upon earning his teaching certification in 2016. He has been at FSO ever since, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He feels fortunate to work in a small-school setting as he believes it helps create an intimacy between students and staff that can’t be duplicated in larger, traditional school settings.

“You can build a rapport with the kids,” Josh says. “Building that relationship over three or four years by having the same students each year allows me to better help them.” 

Besides the Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of communication, Josh finds it easy to use his collaboration skills with his colleagues since they are in close proximity. He often works with FSO math teacher Missy McCarthy to make sure that the math concepts he is including in his science lesson align with the way that Missy has been teaching them to students. 

FSO school counselor Andrew Maruk notes Josh’s willingness to collaborate and support others: “Whether it’s covering a class, supporting an escalated student, or jumping in to assist with a building issue, he is flexible, dependable, and always able to adjust on the fly. He is an experienced educator who is well-respected by his colleagues and often looked to for advice and support.”

As a father and coach, Josh brings a valuable real-world perspective into the classroom. Andrew remarked how Josh makes a point to incorporate life lessons into his teaching, noting that it creates opportunities for meaningful conversations about finances, employment, goal setting, and more. He adds, “Josh has built strong relationships with our students and is a genuine advocate for our alternative learners.”