On September 11, 2025, during the Hollis-Brookline High School Open House, guardians explored course offerings and classroom expectations, highlighting the school’s commitment to academic transparency. Later that evening in room 223, a former student and her teacher reunited, demonstrating the lasting impact of educational relationships.  

Michael Fox, renowned for his 50 plus years at Hollis-Brookline, began his career teaching a senior Humanities class with John Eastman, back when English and history were a single department. In that early classroom sat Debra Frommer. Fox says Debra was one of the brightest members of the class, and their reunion at the open house further emphasized the lasting impact of dedicated teaching and inspired learning. “Somewhere in the attic, she still has a paper she wrote on James Joyce’s collection of short stories, Dubliners.” He recalled, “She said she was going to go up and try to dig it out; she was very proud of it.”

This was confirmed by Frommer, who said that: “I wrote a paper on ‘The Dubliners’, I could not locate it, but I still tried today. I was very inspired by him to become an English literature major and teacher.” Frommer transferred to teaching AP European History and ancient studies, but loved teaching at Mecenic Regional High School just as Mr. Fox loves teaching today.

Frommer’s initial impression of Mr. Eastman and Mr. Fox was that they were both very passionate teachers. “I think really the sign of a great teacher is when they want you to love their subject just as much as they do.” She recalls him having a great sense of humor in the classroom and always making great puns. “I’ve always thought a big part of a teacher has to be an entertainer,” said Debra.

Nevertheless, over many years of teaching, Mr. Fox has endured changes in the field. “After 50 years, I have clearly changed what I’ve learned and what I know, and I’ve got a better sense of what students should know and need to know in order to become a culturally competent citizen.” 

Fox prioritizes giving students exactly what they need to know—and should know—about what they will be tested on. This way, they are paying more attention to learning the key details in what he thinks they should be educated in his classroom.

Unfortunately, enduring changes in his teaching techniques also come hand in hand with changes in students.  Fox has always loved school; however, it seems students don’t have as much time on their plates as they used to. “I have a feeling that back then, students were a little less busy than they seem today. Students seemed better prepared. There are times I am talking about an assignment in class, and it seems I am the only one who has read it.”

One student in particular has a special place in this. After all of these years, Debra Frommer’s granddaughter sits in the very class she took many years ago. Quinn Hardy is enrolled in Mr. Fox’s class, which is now called Honors Literature. “I heard many great things about him, that he was a very passionate teacher. It is really important to have a teacher like Mr. Fox because he knows exactly what he wants his kids to learn and carry with them as they grow to be adults,” said Quinn Hardy.

Debra Frommer and Quinn Hardy both encourage future Hollis-Brookline High School students to take Mr. Fox’s class because they may not have the opportunity to experience such passionate and humorous teaching.