Jody Franks, who taught at two Nacogdoches ISD campuses and was named a campus and district Teacher of the Year, has died following an extended illness.
A memorial service for Franks will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at Austin Heights Baptist Church, 2806 Appleby Sand Road. A visitation will take place at 1:30 p.m. prior to the service.
In 2018, Franks was named NISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year after being selected as campus Teacher of the Year at Mike Moses Middle School. Franks joined Nacogdoches ISD in August 2016, moving to the district after spending four years at Center ISD. Most recently, Franks taught at Nacogdoches High School.
In April, Franks was one of 10 NISD teachers earning a Teacher Incentive Allotment Designation in the first year of the program for the district.
Franks’ work and volunteer experience carried her across the country as well as the world. She spent nine months in the Republic of Georgia as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English to students in a rural mountain village. And she served with AmeriCorps in Alaska, spending a total of four years in the Sitka (Alaska) School District as a secretary and paraprofessional, teaching intern and substitute teacher.
“Ms. Franks was an outstanding teacher who worked so hard to connect with and influence her students,” said NISD Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo. “She created an atmosphere in her classroom where students felt comfortable and safe and wanted to thrive, and she was a fierce advocate on their behalf.
“No doubt, NISD will miss her influence, talent and ability but the district is so much the better for her time here.”
The San Antonio native obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Stephen F. Austin State University. She earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.
Franks returned to East Texas in 2011 and taught math and science at Center ISD before coming over to Nacogdoches ISD.
Over the years, she helped coach UIL academic teams and GT robotics groups. In 2018, Franks spent part of her summer at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., for the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy.