Educator spotlight: Counselor helps middle school students reach for the stars

Laura Franco got married over fall break this year. Now students at Maricopa Wells Middle School call their guidance counselor Mrs. Lopez.

It was because of her new husband that she found her way to Maricopa Unified School District four years ago.

“My fiancé moved out here, and I decided that I wanted to make Maricopa our home,” Lopez said.

As a guidance counselor, she gets to know a wide range of students and helps them tackle a wide range of challenges and goals. Lopez said the best advice she received on her own education was to “never give up and to know that I can go as far as I want.” Now, that is something she imparts to MWMS students.

“I want to provide that support and encouragement to students,” she said. “I want them to know that they have the power to make their dreams happen. The sky is the limit.”

She also encourages parents to be involved in their children’s school and to get to know the teachers. Lopez emphasizes the importance of a child seeing parents involved in their education.

And she knows when she’s making a difference. It’s what she loves about her work at MWMS.

“I love working with the students,” she said. “I want them to know that I care about them and their education.”

Laura (Franco) Lopez
Title: School guidance counselor
School: Maricopa Wells Middle School
Hometown: Phoenix
Residence: Maricopa
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and master’s degree in Education-School Counseling
Family: Mom, three siblings and new husband Rodolfo (married Oct. 9)
Teaching positions held: Full-time counselor
Years in education: 4
Hobbies: Running
First year with current school: 2011
Favorite subject when you were in elementary: Science – my teacher had lots of hands-on activities for us.
What have your students taught you? Every day is a new adventure.

This story was published in the November issue of InMaricopa News.