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Hi Ms. Davis, I hope you are well, and you and your family had an amazing break together. I just wanted to say that I, unfortunately, never had the honor of being in your class, but I am very excited to attend it in the upcoming years. I love English and writing, it has always been my favorite subject, and who better to learn it from than a genius like you. You must be great because Maya is always talking about you, you see, I am her sister. You make her day in the morning, she comes out of your class happy and laughing, and that is her mood for the rest of the day. I just wanted to write this email to say hi, and I hope you are doing amazing. Much love 💓💓💓💓 — Eva behar

Nothing but the most amazing memories of your English class at Killian! I’ll never forget running into you at Publix or the JCC and having you recall some of the great times we had in your class, even remembering specific projects we had done many years earlier! Your dedication to your students was evident and I am grateful to have had you as a teacher. You’ve left an unbelievable mark on your students and this community! Keith Ginsburg

Mrs. Davis, it’s Annabelle Lee here and I have so much to say. Let me begin with the fact that there are no dry eyes at Riviera today. I have cried my eyes out all afternoon because of how much you mean to me. You transformed English for me. I used to dislike the subject, yet I would joyfully enter your room as you always managed to put a smile on my face. You were always so energetic and you created some beautiful memories that I can cherish forever. We did not get along at first, but you were one of the few individuals that spent the time to truly get to know me. This, in and of itself, is enough. You did what most do not waste their time doing. We built a bond that is stronger than I have had with most teachers. Your enthusiasm for teaching is unparalleled and no one will ever impact their students to the level that you have. I wish you nothing but the best always and I hope to see you again one day. Love you more than you will ever know.

My dear, dear Mrs. Davis, It is with a heavy heart that I write to you. I am so sorry with what you have been given to deal with. You don’t deserve to undergo this pain; instead, you are deserving of all the good life has to offer. My daughter, Annabella, adores you. Since you became her teacher, she has constantly praised not only your teaching, but you as an endearing person as well. You took the time to know her and you will forever be in her heart. Her love for you is so great that yesterday she even said she’d wish she could trade places with you so she could fight the disease. Through the kindness you’ve afforded my daughter, you have stolen a piece of my heart as well. I ask God to give you the strength and peace to journey through this last stage of your life. Have peace in knowing that not only are you loved by family and friends, but by the many students and parents you have impacted along the way. You have touched my daughter immensely and for that we will always love you. Barbara Nogueiras Fernandez

And one more, when Fran was Fran Finkel way back in 1982!

Some beautiful memories from December, 2007 at Killian.

My Dear Francine, I need you to know how much you are loved. So much of what I do as a teacher is because of you. As your student in the 80s, you showed me that we could have fun and laugh and still learn. Every day in class we were transformed into Mrs. Finkel’s world of literature and writing, and we loved the adventure. You are compassionate, entertaining, and intelligent; and I soon learned as your colleague in 1989, that the in-class persona and real-life persona were not far apart. Our teacher-student relationship evolved as I became your colleague, but still… you were my teacher as I took over your class after you gave birth to wonderful Jonathan, who I later taught in 9th and 11th grade. Our lives truly meshed. Throughout the following years, you looked took me under your wing as I mastered Links (which I still teach 33 years later). You taught me classroom management tips–how to color code classes to remain organized, how to use the seating chart with the plastic cover sheets to write notes about the students– the list goes on. At the beginning of my career, you shared your meaningful, masterful lessons with me … but in later years you narrated your daily plans to me to make sure they were logical… not realizing how amazing you were as an instructor and that as your student and colleague, I was flattered that YOU wanted MY opinion about YOUR lesson. I wanted to be like you! I’ll never forget the moments when you made me laugh till my bones hurt: When you told on yourself (or self-reported) after you threw a student’s crutch off the balcony of the second floor of Killian’s English wing when you were frustrated with his behavior! I still laugh about that now! I hope you know how much I admire you, that even though we’ve spent years at different schools and have not been in touch as much as I would like, that you are on my mind. Almost daily, there is something in my lesson that reminds me of you and your creativity. I wish more teachers and people were more like you, Francine Davis! The world would be a better place, for sure. I wish you peace in the coming days. In this crazy life, we don’t always get to tell people how much they are loved and appreciated. I love and appreciate you more than you know. You have been a huge part of my life, and I’m grateful for this! Cathy Conkling

Dear Mrs. Davis, I’m gonna get right to the point: Thank you. Not only did you help revitalize my interest in literature, but you also served as a beacon of light throughout dark times. While I was struggling to come out to my father, the days tended to crush me under their weight. Yet every morning, your energetic and honest teaching style motivated me to persist. You have bettered my life in ways I’ll never know, and I’m sure you’ve done the same for hundreds of your students. You are one of the few people I know who is unapologetically themselves, and you’ve likely bettered the world by being so. Thank you for everything,

Dear Mrs. Davis, Thank you for everything you have done for me. I was fortunate enough to have you as my English teacher for 2 years. I will never forget how you taught every book and lesson with such passion, such as wearing a flapper girl outfit for the Great Gatsby and decorating your classroom with colored lights to signify the color symbolism in Macbeth. I would always remind you “Don’t worry Mrs. Davis,” “It’s okay Mrs. Davis,” and I wish I could do the same now. However, I know you have found peace. I will miss all your Frangents, but I cherish all the memories we share together. I love you Mrs. Davis! Love, Riley

Mrs. Davis: Thank you for always smiling and making everyone around you smile. Thank you for all you taught us. Thank you for believing in all of us. Thank you for creating such a positive and happy environment in your classroom. We have the same birthday, and I remember walking into your classroom every year to give you your birthday hug even if I didn’t have a class with you. I’ve missed that hug ever since I graduated, but I will make sure to light a candle for you every year on our birthday. I have always admired you so much. Thank you for teaching me so much more than just English. You are one of the most extraordinary people I have ever had the honor of meeting, and I will forever be grateful for that! You are so loved and will be greatly missed! Inna Cortes Riviera Prep class of 2016