Madeline
Gerena Franco
CONGRATULATIONS TO
HONORED NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD NOMINEE
Madeline
Gerena Franco
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
|
Chicago,
Illinois
Student Nomination Stories
Nominated by: Marco Flores
She made AP CSP such a fun class and worth going to every single day!
Nominated by: Katie Chen
This teacher is awesome because they want to engage us in learning. She makes us excited to go to class when she gives us presents like small rubber ducks with hats and glasses, or fun stickers and pens. I get excited to go to class because I am able to learn new things about Computer Science which I have never learned about. I know that she cares about us because she puts effort into making sure we understand the content. This allows me to be sure about what I know about Computer Science. Inside and outside of the classroom, she makes sure to give us plenty of resources to help our learning. This helped me when I had to take the AP Computer Science Exam which allowed me to feel confident about how I did,
Nominated by: Julian Dickson
This teacher makes class fun with assignments that have themes that we are all familiar with, like star wars, one piece, etc. Most of the assignments are fun to work through, and she is lenient with the students personal needs.
Nominated by: Tyus Jacob
Mrs. Franco is one of the most energetic teachers I have had almost ever. Her energy, especially since her class is last in the day, is unmatched. Her lessons are very enjoyable and she answers all of our questions with a through response. She gives my confidence in my answers and she is not afraid to correct me if I am wrong. Mrs. Franco always makes sure all students understand the concept and gives so many opportunities to get better. She is a teacher that helped me grow my love for computer science!
Nominated by: Gabrielle S
Ms. Franco is awesome because she plays fun music in class and is lenient about our work, which helps reduce stress and makes the classroom more enjoyable.
Nominated by: Alice Acebedo
What makes Ms. Franco awesome is that she doesn't just assign regular, boring assignments. She makes everything interesting and always has a theme. Everything is always interactive and fun, making it easier to learn and to retain.
Nominated by: Ryan Baker
My teachers classes are very interactive and makes sure to create and environment that fosters close connection between students.
Nominated by: Zoey Paradowicz
Ms. Franco has taught me so much about AP Computer Science Principles and has helped us through all of the units. She always ensures that her class is engaging through doing different types of fun activities and assignments. She shows her appreciation for the class by giving us little motivating gifts like a rubber ducky. Ms. Franco always supports collaboration in her class through group/partner assignments. I really like how her class allows me to be creative while learning, during assignments such as making posters. I am very greatful to be in her class this year.
Nominated by: Mayra Bhatia
This teacher always made learning computer science engaging and comprehensive, and always was understanding with us. She made the environment comfortable, but still allowed us to develop our computer skills.
Nominated by: Jillian Keener
Ms. Franco always tries her best to make our class activities engaging and fun for everyone. Once she led a game of red light green light to help us better understand a specific coding procedure, which realy helped. She introduces fun themes to her assignments as well, which always makes the tasks more enjoyable.
Nominated by: Flora Sawyer
I love Ms Franco because she is a fun teacher; I always feel comfortable confiding in her and telling her about my life. She also has a fun way of teaching, which I enjoy. I'm always excited to go to class.
Nominated by: Ethan Lee
Mrs Franco always makes learning in her class fun. It is always a good time with the group projects, assignments, and presentations we do. I know she cares about me very much, as she knows all about what I want to do later in life, of flying.
Nominated by: Casey Reed
they are very nice and allow us time to do our work and have fun in the class while still maikng sure that we get it done and learn the content.
Nominated by: Alexander Wang
Mrs. Franco is an amazing teacher because she truly cares about her students and wants everyone to succeed. In AP Computer Science Principles, she makes difficult concepts easier to understand and creates a classroom environment where students feel comfortable learning and asking questions. She keeps class engaging and encourages us to think critically and problem solve instead of just memorizing information. She is one of the best and nicest teachers I know and I could not nominate a better teacher for this award. One thing I really appreciate is how supportive and patient she is. She always takes the time to help students when they are confused and makes sure nobody feels left behind. She pushes us to do our best while also building our confidence, which has helped me grow as both a student and a problem solver. Her energy, dedication, and encouragement make a big difference, and it’s clear that she genuinely wants her students to succeed both in and outside of the classroom. I’m very thankful to have Mrs. Franco as my AP CSP teacher.
Nominated by: Dasha Balderas
Mrs. Franco is very understanding which makes her class a lot less stressful but at the same time I still learn new things. I also like that it shows that Mrs. Franco cares about her students because she takes her time and interacts with them and also provides incentives such as prizes when playing games or presenting in class.
Nominated by: Michael Acevedo
What makes Ms. Franco so awesome is the way she incorporates fun and engaging activities into the lessons we are learning. Every activity we do is always super interesting and never fails to teach me new things. I remember one time when we were learning about how data is sent over a computer network, Ms. Franco set up an activity where we were able to collaborate with our classmates and used a piece of yarn and beads to learn how data is sent over a network. Hands on activities such as these have helped me learn greatly throughout the school year.
Nominated by: Alexander Hung
Ms.Franco is a very understanding, funny, and interesting teacher. She's allowed the class to have extensions because she know how much all of us work. What makes class exciting to go to is that she cracks jokes and is funny about the things she teaches. She always encourages asking questions to clarify our understand. Outside of the classroom, she helps the club I run (key club) by having a space where we can meet as many of the rooms in our school are being used by other clubs and has provided materials and such that are appreciated by all members. The final thing is that we know she cares about all of us because of her support, like how she waited for our AP CSP test to be over and gave us things to celebrate our ending!
Nominated by: Raniyah Ballard
Ms. Franco is an awesome teacher who makes her lessons fun and engaging throughout the year. The assignments also follow suit with that fun and engagement by making them themed with things students like. She makes every class enjoyable, and i'm very glad shes my teacher.
Nominated by: Eliza Kusek
Mrs. Franco is an amazing AP Computer Science Principles teacher. She makes class fun, engaging, and connects real-life situations to things we're learning in class. She's also easy to talk to, joke around with, and relatable. Mrs. Franco tries to make a personal connection with each of her students and is exceedingly capable of what she does. She truly deserves this award.
Nominated by: Delilah Roman
Ms.Franco is extremely lenient and makes understanding within AP CSP extremely easy. She's fun in class and is always prepared to crack a joke for the class.
Nominated by: Nicholas Zhang
She taught me cool things about computers
Nominated by: Adelaide Chen
This teacher is awesome because she makes the topics of this class understandable. She does this by having hands-on activities for students to make the class fun. I get excited to go to class as I know I am never nervous for the class. This teacher comes up to each table and checks in to make sure that students get the topic. I get to feel better as a student in the class because I know I have my teacher's support and classmates. This teacher has supported me inside the classroom as she is always open if a student wants to reach for help.
Nominated by: Maxwell Tunk
Ms. Franco is an incredible AP Computer Science Principles teacher who has a knack for making high-level technical concepts feel approachable. She stands out because she doesn't just teach code; she connects the curriculum to the real world, which makes walking into her classroom every day genuinely exciting. She shows she cares by being consistently attentive to her students' progress, ensuring everyone feels supported during complex lessons on things like data privacy or network security. Her teaching style has built my confidence by pushing me to think like a problem-solver rather than just a student. Whether she is providing extra guidance on a tough project or offering support outside of the standard lesson plan, her dedication has made a huge impact on my academic growth this year.
Nominated by: William Anthonisz
Ms. Franco is an incredible computer science teacher because she has a unique gift for making complex logic feel like a fun puzzle to solve. She creates an environment where no one is afraid to "break" their code, often reminding her students that debugging is just another word for problem-solving. Her passion for technology is infectious; she doesn't just teach syntax, she shows her students how they can use those tools to build their own futures.She goes above and beyond to make every student feel seen, often taking the time to troubleshoot a tricky line of code side-by-side until the "aha!" moment finally clicks. Beyond the technical skills, she has helped her students build immense confidence by celebrating their creative solutions and encouraging them to think outside the box. Whether she is offering extra help after class or sharing the latest tech trends, she constantly demonstrates how much she cares about her students' growth both as programmers and as people.
Nominated by: Amelia Brake
My teacher is awesome because she makes learning fun!
Nominated by: Evelyn Howes
she has taught me a lot about computer science.
Nominated by: Elio Gutierrez
She is absolutely my favriot teacher ever she always makes first period so great and has me super confident for the ap exam next week
Nominated by: Sofia Sarmiento
She always tries to connect with her students beyond just teaching and I think it makes the class feel a lot more fun and comfortable rather than there feeling like there’s a power imbalance.
Nominated by: Alondra Bucio Montes
I am writing to share how much of an impact Mrs. Franco has had on my education. They have a gift for making complex subjects—like data science and computer science engaging and accessible. Beyond the curriculum, they create a classroom environment where students feel confident taking risks. Their dedication to our growth, both as students and as people, truly sets them apart as exceptional educators.
Nominated by: Fionn Gallagher
In a world full of cooped-up teachers, Ms. Franco provides a fun environment that intertwines pop culture and modern meme references, truly engaging her students. I personally find Ms. Franco relatable because of her humor and how in tune she is with internet trends.
Nominated by: Jermani Williams
Ms. Franco is awesome because she knows how to make computer science interesting and easy to understand. I love how she's able to come up with funny games to play that are interactive.
Nominated by: Edgar
She’s super fun The fun activities we did in the beginning of every unit She checks up on every group regularly and gives thoughtful advice when asked or needed Makes us feel comfortable my relationships and academics
Nominated by: Shea Mccammon
Ms. Franco makes super fun activities and makes conversation with us.
Nominated by: Owen Mowbray
Ms. Franco is great because she comes to class every day with a smile, ready to teach us in a fun and engaging way. She makes me a better and more confident student by pushing me with more assignments than I am used to, which helped me build up my endurance for schoolwork and drive to keep going. She makes me feel supported inside and outside the classroom by offering many chances to retake tests or make up assignments, making it so I never end up behind on my assignments. She lets us know she cares about us by greeting us by name when we come into class and always walking around the class to check in on us.
Nominated by: Siddharth Sankisa
Ms. Franco is great because she makes class fun and helps me understand things better. She always checks in on us and makes sure we’re doing okay. She makes me feel more confident and reminds me that I can do hard things. She supports me in class and even when stuff outside of school is tough. I’m really glad they’re my teacher.
Nominated by: Ermonie Day
I think she is a cool teacher who tries to make class fun and make sure that we learn everything we can during her lesson
Nominated by: Sofia Faisal
Mrs. Franco is a great AP Computer Science Principles teacher! Over the past school year she has made me feel very prepared for the AP exam and overall heightened my knowledge on computer science, especially thanks to her fun and engaging lesson plans! In her class we do a lot of projects and will usually have the freedom to choose our own format for the project given the prompt, whether its a poster, video, an act, etc and allows us to work with whoever we want in the class! Mrs. Franco fosters a safe and inclusive space, where students feel safe and ample to learn 🙂
Nominated by: Musiq Rodriguez
ms franco made me my best self everyday
Nominated by: Simone Schlichtman
This teacher is absolutely awesome because they possess the rare ability to turn a challenging, complex subject into an engaging adventure, cultivating a classroom environment where curiosity is celebrated and no question is deemed too simple. They don't just teach from a textbook; they tailor their lessons to meet students where they are, utilizing interactive, real-world examples that make the material feel relevant and exciting. Beyond the curriculum, this educator shows genuine care for their students' well-being and personal growth, offering patient mentorship and fostering a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels empowered to take intellectual risks and reach their full potential.
Nominated by: Annie Lin
Ms. Franco is comical and makes the classroom environment livelier.
Nominated by: Jaden Karbin
This teacher is awesome because of how she helps us learn, while still making the class fun. I am excited to go to class every day because our assignments are usually interactive and make a good environment for the class. She always shows that she cares by making bonds with the students and being nice. They always motivate me to be the best student I can be even when I'm not doing well. They are very on top of posting the classwork and updates, which helps students make sure they do the work.
Nominated by: Enzo Coleman
Ms. Franco always interacts with students and makes the classroom environment very enjoyable. I am always excited to come into class and have a good time while also learning about computer science.
Nominated by: Autumn Moon
Ms. Franco is super easy-going and helps me to understand difficult concepts with ease.
Nominated by: Zoey Obregon
Ms. Franco is a great teacher because you can tell that she cares about her students. She always makes sure we understand the material that she is teaching and she provides us with a number of resources to make sure we succeed in the class. Her class is interesting to both me and my peers. She makes a lot of jokes and we’re always excited to go to class and hear her fun bell ringers. Ms. Franco helps us both inside and outside the classroom by helping us understand concepts and being understanding of different situations.
Nominated by: Kamsi Ashinze
She's a really good AP Computer Science Teacher. She makes the lessons fun by making most of the assignments group work which is genuinely beneficial to myself and my peers. The class is very informative, and although there's an extreme amount of assignments, I'm sure it's all going to help in the end when it comes to the AP exam.
Nominated by: Landyn Nicole McClain
They are great. Help us understand through real life scenarios.
Nominated by: Daniela Carlos
Mrs. Franco is great because she actually makes me want to learn. She puts things into a perspective that makes me understand harder AP CSP concepts, and explains it in other ways if I still don't understand it. Before my junior year, I was really scared of taking "harder" AP's, but this class was actually enjoyable because of Mrs. Franco and her teaching style. She always makes me feel supported and comfortable in her classroom.
Nominated by: Joey O’Brien
Ms. Franco is an awesome teacher because of her interactive activities and connection with each student. I am always excited to go into AP Computer Science Principles every day because I am being challenged with coursework but still feel very comfortable with the material we’re learning because of her thorough lessons. Ms Franco always shows that she cares about us through her very flexible policies and lessons. She’s always gives us a very good amount of time to get work done and it really helps balancing another AP class with hers. She always makes me feel confident through frequent public speaking-inspired lessons in our classroom to build morale and trust among classmates. Ms. Franco has supported me all year, especially when I was transferred to a different period of hers in second semester, where I received a lot of consideration and support. Ms Franco is definitely one of those teachers you can always talk to, creating a really good environment at our school.
Nominated by: Faris Rahim
My teacher stands out because she truly care about their students, both in school and in life. She makes class engaging by explaining concepts clearly, using real-world examples, and creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable participating. I actually look forward to going to class because She brings energy and positivity every day. What makes them especially effective is how they support students individually. She takes the time to check in, offer extra help when needed, and encourage us to exceed our limits. She has helped me become more confident in my abilities and challenging me to improve. Even outside of class, She is willing to give advice or guidance.
Nominated by: Selasi Affram
This teacher is funny and converses with the students. She is not a boring teacher. She talks to me often and makes sure I am keeping up with my work. She encourages me to try my best and work hard. She is a kind teacher who I can be open and honest with.
Nominated by: Logan Jones
She teaches fun material and shows that she cares about the success of all of her students. We get small little trinkets throughout the year like rubber ducks and stickers that are cool incentives and usually relate to our work. We have a wide variety of different assignments from online work, games, group work, posters, presentations, etc. She is very supportive of us and hypes us up when we are doing well in class and always makes sure that we are having fun and learning!
Nominated by: Daphna Tesher
She is really good at explaining complicated topics. This is especially helpful when the I don't understand the concept one way, and she explains it via other methods. Her class is also fun and chill
Nominated by: Edwin Gerena
A truly exceptional educator—the kind who doesn't just deliver a curriculum, but builds a community. By teaching other instructors how to teach, she improves the education of students who aren't even in her own classroom. She doesn't gatekeep knowledge. Her willingness to share resources shows she is more invested in the success of the field than in her own ego.
To see more exceptional teacher nominees, visit The Honor Roll.
