From Wesleyan Graduate to Teacher of the Year: Frank Linton’s Purpose-Driven Path

From Texas Wesleyan graduate student to Teacher of the Year at Harlen Beal Elementary, Frank Linton’s journey has been defined by service, dedication and putting students first. Now a second-grade teacher, Linton credits his success not only to experience in the classroom, but to the hands-on preparation and mentorship he received at Texas Wesleyan.

Linton attended Texas Wesleyan from 2020 to 2021, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis on reading and writing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the year brought unique challenges, Linton says the university’s application-focused approach made the experience meaningful. "It was, hands down, one of the best experiences I’ve had in education,” Linton said. “I loved the hands-on approach the program offered. It wasn’t just theory—you got to apply what you were learning.”

Before enrolling at Texas Wesleyan, Linton completed his undergraduate degree in English at TCU (Texas Christian University), following in the footsteps of his mother, who was also an English teacher. “I always knew I wanted to do a job where I was able to serve and give back to the community,” he said. “Everything positioned itself for that to be what my career was going to be." Linton’s connection to Texas Wesleyan began with personal outreach from Dean Carlos Martinez of the School of Education, who encouraged him to explore the university’s program. “He reached out to me personally and invited me to orientation,” Linton said. “I liked what I saw and what I heard, and the rest is history.” While completing his graduate studies, Linton worked full-time as a fourth-grade math teacher, balancing coursework with class responsibilities. Though his schedule left little time for extracurricular involvement, Linton remained closely connected to campus life and focused heavily on developing as an educator.

Several faculty members left a lasting impression on him, but there was one mentor, who stood out for grounding instruction in real-world practice.“ Dr. Ward always rooted everything in real-world applications,” Linton said. “She helped us understand that teaching wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it. That preparation made it much easier to navigate my first year in the classroom." Now teaching second grade at Harlen Beal Elementary, Linton is known for his strong work ethic, consistency and authentic relationships with students—qualities that recently earned him Teacher of the Year. "To be recognized means a lot,” Linton said. “Some teachers noticed my passion, my attendance and how much I care about the kids—even ones I don’t work closely with.”

For Linton, the greatest reward comes from students learning to value their own education. "I want to teach them to intrinsically care about learning,” he said. “If they value it for themselves, that’s something they’ll never lose.” Looking ahead, Linton hopes his students remember his classroom as a place that was engaging, supportive and impactful.

“I hope they remember a teacher who did his best to help them grow—not just academically, but socially and culturally,” he said. “When they look back, I want them to say, ‘Mr. L was my favorite teacher’.”

As he continues shaping young learners, Linton represents the kind of educator Texas Wesleyan strives to develop—prepared, purposeful and committed to making a lasting difference, one classroom at a time.