25 Years On:
From Late ’79 to Present, Jesse and Ze Frank Have Help Shaped Young Men’s Lives at Mooseheart
By MICHAEL McCULLOH
> Mooseheart, like the rest of the world, has changed a great deal in 25 years. However, one constant has remained at the Child City: Jesse and Ze Frank’s mission to help raise outstanding young men as professional caregivers, now known at Mooseheart as Family Teachers.
The two came to Child City in fall 1979 as a recently married couple. They had actually heard about Mooseheart after Jesse drove his uncle Stanley to the campus when he moved here to become a caregiver. Jesse said he immediately “fell in love” with the community, and told a reluctant Ze (who worked as a teacher) to come spend a weekend. After Ze visited, the two quickly applied for family teacher positions, telling supervisors to “let us give two weeks notice.” They arrived on campus a short time later and have never looked back.
Jesse and Ze first lived in the now defunct Dixie Hall. They later lived moved to the Ontario Home, and have lived in the West Virginia home since it opened in 1991. In all the homes, the Franks have looked after boys ages 12 to 17.
The biggest change the couple has seen in 25 years is that Mooseheart is much more flexible in allowing students off-campus trips, and encouraging off-campus jobs. Twenty years ago, students took off-campus trips only very rarely.
The other big change is the Mooseheart Model of Care, introduced by Dr. David Coughlin in 1998-99. It provides for all Family Teachers to operate by the same system and rules.
“There is more coordinated training than ever before (between Family Teachers and schoolteachers),” Ze said.
Jesse and Ze Frank said that helping give children in need a better start is simply their mission in life.
“It’s what we do,” Jesse said. “It’s the reason we came here, the reason we stayed. We wanted to be around kids, take care of kids and provide them with a stable environment.”
Like any parents, the two are proud when they hear from one of the hundreds of young men they’ve helped raise over the years.
“We love to see them make something positive of their lives, no matter what it is,” Jesse said. “Success is not judged by size of their paycheck, it is making a good, honest living.”
Jesse, who served in Vietnam from 1966-67, makes no bones about the fact that he runs a tight ship.
“I am strict, but fair,” he said. “I care enough about them to not let them run wild.”
Mooseheart Superintendent of Education Gary Urwiler, a 1987 Mooseheart graduate, said he came to live with the Franks as a rebellious seventh-grader, and that the0 two helped shape his values and beliefs he still holds today.
“It is a remarkable feat to do such a demanding job for 25 years. The two of them are amazing people,” Urwiler said.
Mooseheart alumnus Darell Hammond, Class of 1989, has made a name for himself as founder of the nationally famous nonprofit organization KaBOOM, which has raised more than $30 million and built more than 700 playgrounds around the world. Hammond also said the Franks played a part in the man he is today.
Hammond, who lived with the two his freshman and sophomore years, recalls the two were strict and held high standards, but he is thankful for that now.
“They instilled a sense of pride and discipline in everything I did,” he said.“I’m glad they did what they did for us. We are better people for it.”
After 25 years, the two still look forward to their jobs every day—and have no plans to leave.
“One of the most important things we can do with our lives is help other people. That’s why we stay here,” Jesse said. “We’re proud of the work we do, we’re proud of the kids.”
[Back to top]
|
|
. |
Please click on any photograph below to view a larger image.
Ze and Jesse in the living room at West Virginia Home in the early 1990s. For a quarter-century, this closeknit pair has loved knowing that they’re making a positive impact on young men who need responsible adult role models.
Jesse and Ze Frank hold family meetings every day, where any of their boys can bring up problems, issues and general announcements. |
. |
February/March/April 2005
