Keeping Up With the Classroom: Mrs. Perez, Part II

Jan 7 2026

Earlier this year, Mrs. Perez shared how her positive move to the district had a meaningful impact on her students and classrooms. Catch up with Mrs. Perez as she shares the growth her students have had, her favorite moments of the year, and what she looks forward to in the second semester.

As the first semester of the 2025/2026 school year comes to a close, Gilbert Public Schools is checking in with some of its newest teachers to see how their students are growing and thriving in their classrooms. These educators are helping students build knowledge, confidence, and creativity while creating welcoming and collaborative classroom environments.

Francie Perez, ELL Teacher at Meridian Elementary
Francie Perez says one of the most rewarding parts of the semester has been watching her English Language Learner students grow as confident readers, writers, and communicators. She reports steady progress as they take more risks, engage in conversations, and apply what they’re learning to their daily work.

Perez says parents might be surprised by just how much their children now understand about language, from identifying nouns and verbs to using capitalization and punctuation with growing accuracy. “Their knowledge has expanded so much already,” she shared.

Perez describes her class as “a loving, caring, and confident community” where students learn while building trust and friendships. She also credits Meridian Elementary’s staff for making her first year positive and supportive, which has helped her create a welcoming environment in her classroom.

Looking towards the second semester, she hopes to host an EL Family Engagement event next semester to connect with parents and share more about the program and the learning happening each day.