By Lily Lovette--Eagle Staff Writer
There have been a significant number of changes this school year for FCHS, so much so that many students and staff may not know about the big changes in the library. The previous well-known and loved librarians have nested elsewhere, so this year FCHS is introducing two new Eagles in our library, Michelle Pruitt and Tracey Fralin.
There has been a long flight to get to where they are now. For Fralin, it's been a somewhat familiar role with an abrupt transition as she says, “I taught at Henry Elementary for 30 years as the librarian and this is my first year here at the high school.”
As for Pruitt, she has had a steadily changing path. “I taught English at the middle school for 16 years in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. Then I was the librarian in 6th grade for two years and this is my first year here at the high school,” she explained.
Pruitt’s love for teaching is how she has made her way to FCHS. “I love kids; I just always have. When I was a kid I would have my brother and my stuffed animals pretend to be my students and I would teach them. I just always knew that I wanted to be a teacher.”
The same can be said for Fralin. “I set out to be a classroom teacher and I'm certified pre-K through 4th grade, but when I came to Franklin County I couldn't find a job at first, so when I got in the library I fell in love with the kids and the books,” she said.
Still, as with any career, there have been some struggles. Fralin openly admits, “Technology is challenging, for me it's technology because I'm old!” Pruitt saved the day with her endless optimism and quickly chimed in, “She’s a quick learner though. She’s getting it in no time.”
Optimism goes a long way, and it's the positive moments that keep both Pruitt and Fralin going. “For me it's always being able to build relationships with more challenging students. We want them to be excited to come to the library, as a gateway to knowledge and empowerment,” Pruitt explained.
Fralin then added, “Mine was probably when I taught a first grade reading group and I could see the light bulb go off in their heads, that they were getting it and they were learning. Just seeing them realize that they could read, they were so proud. I was so proud.”
Students and staff may be wondering what the upcoming plans are for the library, and the new librarians are here to impress. Pruitt explains, “Ms. Sawyers and Ms. Held did a great job at genrefying the library into fiction sections. We know we have big shoes to fill and we plan to add some more furniture and a maker space area, a place for students to come build legos or puzzles, [or] they can play board games. It's a space for students to use their minds and have fun.”
So far both seem to be loving the FCHS Library. “We love Franklin County High School. The kids are so nice, good manners, they'll talk to you and ask you how your day is; we're not used to that,” Fralin enthused. Pruitt shares the same view, “We are blown away by how nice the students are.”
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