Maria Araceli Francisco was nominated by her colleague, Laura Comppen.

Maria teaches art at PS 23 in Jersey City. Laura writes:

“Maria Francisco is the consummate art teacher. Her knowledge, passion and skill are unmatched. She shares her vast array of innovative best practices by presenting each year at the AENJ annual conference. Maria showcases her students’ talents via Youth Art Month exhibitions at the county and state levels; as well as through exhibits in local businesses and at the Jersey City Board of Education building. She also promotes her students’ work through a myriad of artistic competitions, such as the recent PATH poster contest where her student took the top spot! Maria also regularly participates in Teacher as Artist gallery shows where she exhibits her own personal work, most notably with her handmade mandala designs crafted from yarn. She also produces large-scale engineered paper installations. Maria is proficient with a variety of media, most notably with recycled materials. Any student or colleague that has everexperienced the magic that is Maria Francisco will surely tell you that she is the ultimate art teacher and deserving of this recognition.”

Congratulations, Maria Araceli Francisco! Thank you for all that you do to keep the field of art education vibrant!