FRAMINGHAM, MA – Retiring McCarthy Elementary School teacher Patricia Towle of Framingham was honored with this year’s Touch the Future Award from the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni (IAFSA), Adams Road, Framingham. The award’s name is inspired by Framingham State alum Christa McAuliffe’s oft quoted, “I touch the future, I teach.” as well as Christa’s innovation and enthusiasm in teaching.
Towle, a 1964 Framingham State graduate, joined the Peace Corps before beginning her teaching career, most of which has been at the Miriam McCarthy Elementary School in Framingham. She opened her classroom to student teachers and maintained a collaborative and creative classroom environment. She inspired students to reach beyond the classroom door and become involved in the community. They witnessed her work on faculty committees to improve curriculum, school climate, and teacher morale. They saw her organize school fundraisers such as fashion or talent shows.
Towle lives and works in Framingham and participated in the Newcomers Club and the Framingham History Center. For several years she served as an enthusiastic IAFSA Board member. She showed her students that a teacher’s impact can go far beyond an individual classroom.
She is retiring this June and hopes to spend more time in Maine.
The purpose of this award is to honor and acknowledge teachers who teach teachers; especially those who have contributed to advancing knowledge in a (more…)