Carolyn Frank
Educator

Carolyn was born in Grapevine in 1925 and graduated from GHS in 1943. Her great grandfather
was the first mayor of Grapevine, and her grandfather was a state legislator.

After graduation, Carolyn became THE dance teacher in the community. Together, she and her
mother, Starr, taught piano, dance and voice lessons to scores of residents and held annual
recitals for their students. Carolyn performed at numerous community meetings and events. She
was president of the Tuesday Study Club, one of Grapevine’s three historic women’s clubs.

In 1963, Carolyn closed her dance studio and became the administrative assistant to the
principal at Grapevine High School and remained there until her death 29 years later. In addition
to her administrative responsibilities, Carolyn served as choreographer for the many variety
shows and musicals produced by the legendary Madeleine Hemley. Her love for and dedication
to the students at GHS, at that time the only high school in GCISD, was recognized by the
students themselves when the yearbook was dedicated to her twice, and she was elected
football sweetheart in 1983.

Carolyn was the recipient of the first GCISD Paraprofessional of the Year award in 1990, and
the award was named in her honor after her death. During her lifetime, Grapevine grew from a
population of 3,000 to over 30,000, and she continued to touch the lives of countless community
members.

The real significance of Carolyn’s impact on GCISD and the community is not found in the
written history of the era, but in her many unadvertised gestures of love and friendship towards
others, particularly faculty and students at GHS. She personally funded lunches for students in
need, purchased animals for agriculture students, helped pay for caps, gowns, and graduation
invitations, and provided unofficial counseling to students, parents, GHS teachers, and her boss
– always serving as a fiercely loyal confidant to whomever was serving as the GHS principal at
any given time. Former students and parents of students have shared memories of how she
went out of her way to help others and keep students on the right path. She has been credited
by former faculty members as being the glue that held the high school together, especially
during a lengthy period of revolving principals at GHS. She initiated the student memorial
garden in 1989 to honor the memory of students who had passed.

As a single woman with no children of her own, Carolyn became the unofficial “mother” to all at
GHS, dispensing advice and consoling and encouraging others, all done with her characteristic
wicked sense of humor. She was the one constant at GHS during times of great growth and
change. A former faculty member sums it all up in the statement “her integrity was a reminder to
all of the high calling of educators no matter the level”.