![James Francis named Eliot Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1676321274/tulsaschoolsorg/lmbzwnd4h5oodf4gcqbg/JamesFrancis.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1676321274/tulsaschoolsorg/lmbzwnd4h5oodf4gcqbg/JamesFrancis.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1676321274/tulsaschoolsorg/lmbzwnd4h5oodf4gcqbg/JamesFrancis.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1676321274/tulsaschoolsorg/lmbzwnd4h5oodf4gcqbg/JamesFrancis.jpg","width":984}])
James Francis has been selected as the 2022-2023 Eliot Elementary Teacher of the Year!
James is a Tulsa Public Schools alum and has taught for the district since 1988. He has been at Eliot since 1993. While he currently teaches 4th grade math, science, and social studies, he has taught grades 2nd through 5th, computer lab, and P.E. during his career as a teacher.
"My fifth grade teacher, Barbara Firestone, was probably the biggest influence on me," said James. "She always seemed to see the best in us and allowed us enough freedom to figure things out for ourselves, and, at times, allowed us to fall on our rear ends, showing us later that these were the most important learning experiences. I try to do the same for my students. I believe we learn so much from our mistakes and so much from our efforts. I try to stress to my students that mistakes provide us with our best learning opportunities and to not be afraid of them."
He said he is fortunate to have worked at one school for so long.
"My favorite part of the job is seeing former students come back all grown up and accomplished. I am at the point in my career that I am now teaching kids of kids I taught, and I am working with teachers that I taught when they were students here. It is truly rewarding!"