Associate Professor: School of Teacher Education
Francisca Jensen is a dedicated, National Board-certified public school educator with 21 years of service. Mrs. Jensen’s career began as an Early Childhood teacher in the Norman Public School system, a role she held for 16 years. She then transitioned to a position as an English Language teacher in the Norman Public School system, where she has been for the past five years. During these years, she also taught for nine years as an adjunct professor in Early Childhood and developmental education courses at the college level. Throughout her career, she has shown a strong commitment to understanding, supporting, and advocating for children and families from underserved communities. Through her professional and academic work, Mrs. Jensen has shown a strong commitment to understanding, supporting, and advocating for children and families from underserved communities. She also has demonstrated her dedication to improving the educational experiences of early childhood learners and preservice teachers.
Currently, Mrs. Jensen is pursuing her doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum, with a specialization in Early Childhood Education, at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on working with children and families from Latino backgrounds, as well as with professionals who serve children from Latino cultures. She researches the unique challenges faced by Latino students and professionals in the Pre-K-12 educational system. In addition, she has published articles in the former National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Teaching Young Children magazine and has another article coming out in the Fall of 2025 for their new magazine, Educating Young Children.
Mrs. Jensen’s contributions extend beyond the classroom. She has served on key Oklahoma and federal professional education committees, to shape Early Childhood education standards; raise awareness for underserved students and communities; and develop effective pipelines for recruiting future public-school educators. Mrs. Jensen’s distinguished committee appointments have included serving as a member of the Oklahoma Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Committee, as an Early Childhood Representative in the development and design of standards for Educators Rising, and as a member of the National Board Early Childhood Generalist Standards revision committee. She is also an active board member at the Center for Children and Families in Norman and regularly volunteers across the community to provide translation services for Latino families seeking educational, health, and economic assistance.
