معرفی
Dr. Yvonne Franco serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at the University of Tampa, bringing over 20 years of experience in teacher preparation with specialization in STEM and literacy education. She employs inquiry-based pedagogical practices integrated with artificial intelligence and mixed reality technologies to develop teacher candidates' skills in equitable, responsive instruction across diverse classroom settings.
Her educational foundation includes a B.S. from the University of Tampa (2003), followed by an M.A. (2007) and Ph.D. (2015) from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Franco's research program actively cultivates inquiry stances among teacher candidates to address classroom challenges through practitioner research and innovative technology integration. Her work spans STEM education, literacy development, and ELL instruction, with particular emphasis on preparing educators for equitable teaching practices. She examines how inquiry skills develop in novice teachers and implements artificial intelligence and mixed reality frameworks to enhance pedagogical effectiveness.
Her distinguished recognition includes:
- Presidential Recognition, Florida Association of Teacher Educators (2022-2023)
- Dr. W. Robert Houston Leadership Academy Scholar, Association of Teacher Educators (2022-2024)
- Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award, University of South Florida (2020)
- Outstanding Educator Award, University of Tampa (2003)
Dr. Franco maintains active field partnerships with Hillsborough County Schools and Nature's Classroom where she supervises teacher candidates, having graduated hundreds of educators throughout her career. Her current NSF-funded MAGIAS project demonstrates ongoing grant activity focused on advancing scientific literacy for ELLs through mixed reality gaming, reflecting her commitment to innovative educational solutions and technology integration in teacher preparation.
