Mrs. Kelly Franco is a native of Bogotá, Colombia and has lived in the United States for 11 years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Spanish from the University of North Florida. Mrs. Franco had previously obtained an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and also completed a Strategic Marketing specialization degree from an elite Graduate school in Colombia - CESA.

During her Spanish college program at UNF, she worked on important assignments such as presentations about complex topics about gender-based violence in Latin America. Mrs. Franco did extensive research about the current socio-economic events and presented the various challenges that the Latin American population faces. Furthermore, Mrs. Franco participated in the project Voces y Caras: Hispanic Communities of North Florida. She interviewed a Venezuelan immigrant who works as a translator in our local hospitals. This interview was received with great interest in the academic community because it highlights the importance of being bilingual and the great contribution of Latinos to our region. Her Voces y Caras work was exhibited at UNF’s Carpenter Library during Hispanic Heritage month in 2018. Mrs. Franco’s exceptional work while at UNF earned two prestigious awards: The Certificate of Excellence
Award and Excellence in Spanish.

For the last two years, Mrs. Kelly has worked as a substitute teacher and intern for Palmer Catholic Academy in Ponte Vedra Beach. She has also worked as a personal Spanish tutor for kids and adults. Mrs. Franco has also assisted a local Law Office in Jacksonville in the
translation of legal documents related to immigration cases.

Mrs. Franco has two children. Juan (7) enjoys math, languages, soccer, tennis, and football. Oliver (1) loves food, cars, and balls.

Mrs. Franco is very happy to be part of the select group of teachers of the CPS and she seeks to have a great impact on her students through the Spanish program.

Kelly’s Favorites:

Book: Multitud Errante - Laura Restrepo

Movie: Patch Adams, La Vita e Bella

Dessert: Arequipe (Dulce de Leche)

Color: Blue

Season: Fall

Sports: Tennis

Hobbies: Travel, work out and play with her sons