Two Teachers Affecting Eternity

Although they teach at different local school districts, Ashlee and Daniel Francis share the same goal of making a positive impact on their students

By Amber E. Willman

Education is always a hot topic in the media. It cycles around, usually during election years as politicians use it as part of their platforms. Promises are made and rarely kept. For many states, this topic is a current event as the debate over whether to raise teacher salaries is argued from both sides of the aisle. 

Ironically, while the politicians are debating teacher salaries, social media is filled with requests for teachers. Public education is wildly off-balance. Teachers are outnumbered by students, and it affects their abilities to do their jobs effectively. Schools are understaffed and underfunded. There are programs offering financial aid for those interested in the teaching profession but to what end? Where is the benefit for the teacher?

One of Ashlee’s first graders gave bracelets to every girl in her classroom, making each of the classmates feel like a family.  Ashlee admits that this photo is one of her favorite photos taken so far during her teaching career.

Some would say that they get summers off. Rarely, is this true. Teachers stay longer and return to the classroom earlier than students. Summer months are filled with professional development, continuing education, and many teachers work extra jobs or teach summer school to supplement their incomes. 

They get holidays off. Point of fact – most businesses close for major holidays. But they have shorter days. No. They don’t. They leave school and go home and spend their evening and weekend hours grading, writing lessons plans, and preparing for the next week. Most teachers work as many or more hours than surgeons and lawyers, clocking anywhere from 60-80 hours per week.

On Fridays, students and educators in Pleasant Grove ISD get to wear spirit gear and jeans.  Ellie looks forward to being with Ashlee in first grade this coming school year.

Why would someone who knows that salary and raises are out of their hands, knows that they will work more hours than they will get paid for, knows that they are taking on one of the hardest jobs imaginable, choose to put himself in this situation?

Daniel and Ashlee Francis do it because they have the opportunity to impact the lives of their students for the better. 

Daniel, Ashlee, Ellie and Easton during a fall photo session.  At the time, Ellie was 5 years old, and Easton was 2 years old.  (Photo by Katelyn Peek)

Teaching wasn’t always the plan though. At least, not for Daniel. Daniel and Ashlee met in college while attending Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Daniel pursued a BS in Athletic Training and an MS in Sports Administration, while Ashlee was always headed in the direction of education. She completed a BSE in Education and an MS in Education with a concentration in School Counseling.

The couple married in 2013, and Ashlee went right into teaching and is in her tenth year in the profession. Daniel spent four years as an athletic trainer at the college and professional levels. He has worked at Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University, and even spent a summer with the Detroit Lions.

Ashlee with the 2021-22 first grade team when they received grants from the Pleasant Grove Education Foundation last year.

While working as an athletic trainer, Daniel taught classes at the college level. He taught athletic training. When Daniel and Ashlee started a family, the constant travel was a strain on his time. His priorities changed, and the transition to full-time teaching was natural.  “My whole life my mom told me I should be a teacher. I went all the way through college and finally made the decision to teach. My mom said, ‘I tried to tell you. Moms are always right,’” Daniel says.

Now Daniel teaches health science classes at Texas High School to students interested in the medical field. Ashlee teaches at Pleasant Grove Elementary School and during her tenure in elementary education, she has taught kindergarten, first, and second grades.

Hilary Stovall,  Ashlee, and Katie Osburn during last year’s Hawk Hustle fundraising event.

Daniel laughs that he doesn’t have the patience to teach tiny humans, and Ashlee agreed stating that she didn’t have the patience for teenage attitudes. They’ve both found homes in education. It just so happens to be at opposite ends of the journey.

Despite the differences in who, what, and where they chose to teach, many of their experiences are similar in nature.  Daniel finds success in helping other people achieve success for themselves. This was true from his time as an athletic trainer and continues today. “… I like helping students succeed in my class but also in life, getting a job, being a parent, going to college.” He enjoys helping others be successful.

Ashlee’s experience is similar but on a more basic level given the ages of her students. “I just love the younger grades because that’s when they are really listening. They are sponges. I teach a lot of social things, like how to get along with other people. Teaching kids how to read and seeing the light bulb come on. It is really cool watching kids learn something they’ve spent a lot of time on.”

Since both of her kids were smiling and happy, Ashlee snapped this photo of Ellie (6 years old) and Easton (3 years old) after church this summer.

The Francis’ dedication to their professions extends beyond the day-to-day classroom activities. Daniel works hard to build relationships with his students even outside the classroom. By “bringing different aspects of my life inside the classroom to expose the students to life outside of academics. I help build resumés. There are things they don’t have. Life skills. I try to give them examples by modeling it for them.”

Ashlee goes to a lot of sports events. She attends soccer and baseball games. “It’s such a huge deal to them for me to do that. I’ve done that for 10 years, and I will always do that.” 

Ashlee keeps tabs on her students after they leave her class. “I had a student from last year who came to visit this year. His mom brought me a Christmas present. He wasn’t even in my class, but she did it because we were so close.”

Many of Daniel’s students return to visit him and it is not uncommon for the Francis family to run into his students in public at restaurants or the public pool.  Daniel and Ashlee both do as much as they can for their students, but they also emphasize how crucial parent involvement can be to a student’s academic success. 

This summer, Ashlee, Daniel, Ellie and Easton have enjoyed being at the lake and participating in all types of water sports.

Daniel says, “Parents need to hold their child accountable and work with the teacher for students’ success.”  Ashlee adds, “A huge thing for parents of my students is communication. It makes such a difference when the parent is involved in their child’s life. They need to check folders, respond to announcements, and contact me back.”

Last fall, the drill team selected Daniel as Teacher of the Week, and it was announced at a football game. Another time, one of the basketball players chose Daniel to stand with him on Teacher Night.

It is easy to second guess and wonder if you make an impact. “In my first or second year of teaching, students were assigned to write a letter to their favorite teacher about the impact on their life. I got four or five letters. I’m reminded daily why I teach.” Daniel adds, “I love my job, and I would advise people to go into the teaching field any day.”

“I connect with all of my students no matter the circumstances. Even though they struggle on something, I can see the light bulb go off, and I see them starting to get it,” Ashlee said. “Teaching is such a rewarding profession. I look forward to teaching my students a new skill and watching them learn how to read something new or do a hard math problem. This outshines all the challenges.”

Sporting TISD’s school colors of orange and white, Daniel and Ellie enjoyed participating in one of Texas High School’s “Spirit Friday” activities in 2017.

“Any time a student comes to me and says they’ve chosen a career path, or they’ve made a decision about their future, and I had an influence on it, or I’ve had students with grade or behavior issues, and I talk with them and they make a change ... all of that is special to me.” Daniel knows the impact is real. “At the high school level, I have so many instances where kids have no plans for their lives but then they come to me, and they’ve made a decision.” 

With all this evidence, there is no doubt that teachers are more valuable to the education system than any monetary equivalency the public can offer them. That doesn’t mean that the people shouldn’t give as much effort to supporting the teachers as they give to supporting their students.  As Henry Adams said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”