Clay Francis wins geography teacher of the year award
The Tennessee Geographic Alliance has selected Hutchison upper school AP Human Geography teacher Clay Francis of Memphis as the recipient of the 2015 Tom and Stella Mullane Geography Teacher of the Year award, which is presented annually for excellence in teaching geography to students in grades 7-12.
Francis’ award was announced on March 13 at the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies annual conference held at the Memphis Hilton.
This is the second year a Hutchison teacher has received an award from the Tennessee Geographic Alliance. In 2014, Hutchison middle school science teacher Donna Budynas received t he Lottie and Alden Beverly Teacher of the Year award for her use of geospatial technology in the classroom.
At Hutchison, Francis is known for creating a dynamic learning environment where students are encouraged to ask questions and offer opinions without fear of being in error. According to Ronnie Robinson, the school’s department chair for history and social sciences, “Clay Francis clearly has a passion for AP Human Geography, and his infectious enthusiasm for the subject excites his students as he learns with them.”
Lively discussions and activities are the norm in Francis’ classroom.
“Mr. Francis’ class is so engaging. Instead of just lecturing, he asks our opinions and encourages us to talk to each other about topics,” says Hutchison senior Fatima Jamil. “Sometimes, he’ll mark a grid on the floor and ask us to go stand according to whether we are highly supportive or less supportive of an issue. That becomes a great starting point for us to explain our reasoning and share ideas. His lessons let us connect the subject to our own lives in some way and make it less likely that we’ll forget what we’ve learned.”
Jamil’s sentiments are echoed by classmate Sophie Levy, who adds, “Rarely do you find a teacher who not only educates you on a subject, but also finds a way to captivate your mind in the process.
Upper school head Caroline Blatti concurs, saying, “Clay is a teacher who creates unforgettable geography lessons for his students.”
In addition to AP Human Geography, Francis teaches global studies, economics, psychology and world religion at Hutchison. He also serves as academic adviser and moderator for several student organizations, including the Model United Nations and Hutchison’s Global Ambassadors progra m. A summa cum laude from Middle Tennessee State Universit y, Fra ncis is also a magna cum laude graduate of Vermont Law School, where he earned a master’s degree in environmental law and policy. He has served as an academic adviser and instructor at Middle Tennessee State University; an instructor at Vermont Law School; associate professor at the Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies; a teacher at the Nashville Fellows Program; and a teacher at The Webb School.
Hutchison is an independent college-preparatory school for girls from two-year old prekindergarten t hrough t welfth grade.