After spending the past two years teaching agriculture at Littlefield High School, Sheridan Franks is preparing to close a chapter of his life and continue his career at Corrigan-Camden High School.
Looking back on his career, Franks said his move to Littlefield originally stemmed from his search for a larger agriculture program, but was largely influenced by Tyler Classen, one of the school’s agriculture teachers at the time.
“We had talked about it. And I was looking to move into a role that was multiple ag teachers, more than just me. And I wanted to get my foot in the door. And that’s why I ended up in Littlefield,” Franks said.
Before teaching at Littlefield High School, Franks’ interest in agriculture was shaped mostly by his own high school teachers. Franks said that his teachers pushed him in class and supported him wherever they could, including in competitions, helping him earn his Lone Star.
“I saw how they constantly helped kids, and they helped me because my ag teacher didn’t really know anything; he wasn’t an ag person, and so they helped me get my Lone Star, they helped me get to competitions, and then when I went to college, you know, they checked in on me, and then I even got a student teach with Austin Heck,” Franks said, adding that Heck’s influence stuck with him through everything.
Although he just finished his second year at Littlefield, Franks has been teaching agriculture for the past five years. Franks says that over those five years, he has found that one of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing his students grow up and succeed after high school.
“I’ll be starting year six next year, and getting to see these kids, like a lot of my kids from my previous school, I’m watching them get married, have kids, and become successful individuals in life. And a lot of them, they’re thankful because we went out and competed and they got to do a lot of cool things,” Franks said.
With two new agriculture teachers arriving and set to begin this coming school year, Franks said one of the most important pieces of advice he has is to always show up and to learn how important community involvement can be for students.
“Just be out with them, I mean, show up to football games, show up to all the sporting events, show the kids that you care. And I think doing that is the most rewarding, I mean, seeing those kids’ faces when you show up and being there for them,” Franks said.
Beyond agriculture, one of the things that Frank has always tried to teach his students is not to overextend themselves in their pursuit of success. Franks said this is to help them learn their limits and prepare them for success in their future careers.
“You’ve got to know that sometimes it’s okay to say, no, hey, I can’t do that, that’s too much time, let me figure out some other way, and maybe I can get it done. And that’s kind of what I push the kids to kind of learn is you don’t have to be all for one thing. But you also got to know when you got to say no and when too much is too much.” Franks said.
Although Franks is leaving Littlefield, he plans to stay connected with former students and continue to support them as they move forward in life.
“Your ag teachers are in your corner. They’re there to help you even when you go off to college. We don’t forget,” Franks said, adding that he wants students to continue to get involved and be proud to represent Littlefield FFA.