Nikkee Francisco Hayes has worked at the school for 13 years as the ceramics teacher. Over the years she has helped the school become a community where students can feel safe and comfortable.

How Francisco started working as a ceramics teacher was that she did a ceramics course in college and fell in love with it. Then it worked out when the previous ceramics teacher retired, she took his place.

Not only is she the ceramics teacher, she is also going to help mentor the student council next year. She has helped student council for about 5 years off and on in her time at the school. She believes that the student council is a major part of the high school community and that they voice for the student body. Francisco hopes that this next year she can help the student council make a fun environment at this school.

Francisco has worked with flowers almost her whole life and working with student council she helped set up the flower gram fundraiser, where she provided flowers for them to sell.

Senior Lierin Culhane described Francisco’s classroom as very fun and welcoming, she creates a very warm environment. The room makes you feel at home. Culhane also described Francisco as one of the kindest and funniest people you will ever meet. Francisco is also known for giving great advice to her students and helping them to the best of her ability.

Some goals that Francisco had going into becoming a ceramics teacher was to provide a studio space for kids to create and have a space able to work together and be creative. Francisco enjoys seeing the students grow and learn with their artistic abilities, and hopes for more people to try even if they don’t feel creative. It is a classroom to make you feel comfortable to learn, grow and try new things.

Francisco has built a space for students to show their individuality, abilities and to over all be themselves. She has influenced her students by listening and helping them in whatever way she can.