Señor Class: Stone Harbor Elementary’s Franco Is the County Teacher of the Year

Antonio Martin Franco celebrates being named Cape May County’s Teacher of the Year with some of his students.

Stone Harbor Elementary School educator Antonio Martin Franco, known across Seven Mile Beach as Señor Martin Franco, recently took on another title: Cape May County’s Teacher of the Year, as named by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Martin Franco is originally from Armilla, Spain, located in the province of Granada. He comes from a family of educators. “Seeing my mother and other family members’ impact on their students influenced me to pursue a teaching career,” he says.

Growing up, Martin Franco also received support from many of his teachers. One of his elementary school teachers in particular, Don José, stands out as an inspiration.

“Mr. José was the kind of teacher who made learning fun,” he says. “His lessons were engaging and educational, and his rapport with students created an environment where everyone felt valued and comfortable. He was a powerful influence, inspiring me to become an educator.”

Martin Franco with his family celebrating his award.

Martin Franco attended Spain’s Universidad de Granada, majoring in health and physical education with a minor in Spanish. Upon graduating in 2009 with a degree in education, he taught physical education in Spain until he moved to Pennsylvania.

After three years of teaching at various schools in Pennsylvania, Martin Franco moved yet again, this time to Cape May County. There, he landed a job at Stone Harbor Elementary, where he teaches Spanish as well as physical education and health.

“My passion for sports made me want to decide on physical education,” he says, “and health is an essential part of sports and athleticism, helping kids make healthy and safe decisions in their lives. I also chose Spanish as part of my career education because it brings me the opportunity to share my heritage, language, culture, and traditions with the class. It is a privilege for me to have the chance to share a different vision of the world to my students, through my language.”

Upon moving to Cape May County, Martin Franco felt welcomed by the community immediately. Stone Harbor Elementary has responded positively to his new ideas, and the community has proved to be a great support system for the hard-working teacher. He attributes much of his success to support from members of the community. Help from the Board of Education, the Stone Harbor school administration, his fellow teachers, outside organizations, and families in Cape May County have made his achievements possible.

“Teaching here is like a dream come true,” he says, “and not only because the Stone Harbor School building is just two blocks away from the beach, but because of all the possibilities that we have in South Jersey: from a visit to the Cape May County Zoo, to the whale watching in Cape May, visits to The Wetlands Institute, not to mention some of the possibilities South Jersey offers.”

In September, Martin Franco will start his fourth year as a teacher at Stone Harbor Elementary.

“From my experience as a teacher at Stone Harbor Elementary School,” he says, “I am just glad I found this position. People in the community are good, students and families are great, and life is fabulous.”

Antonio Martin Franco, center, is presented with the Cape May County Teacher of the Year award flanked by Superintendent Kathleen Fox on his left, Dr. Renee Murtaugh on his right and members of the New Jersey Department of Education.

As an educator and health teacher, Martin Franco encourages all his students to pursue a healthy lifestyle. One of the ways he does so is through the youth running program, Marathon Kids. The program, which encourages physical and mental wellness, is a Stone Harbor Elementary staple. It motivates students to complete as many laps on the school track as they can, with the overall goal of getting the most miles by the end of the school year.

An advocate for the program, Martin Franco speaks highly of its positive impact on students: “I fell in love with the way that our students improve, are healthy, and try to get better not only during school time but also by making an impact in after-school activities and life.”

The program also inspired Martin Franco and Stone Harbor to collaborate with other organizations. Through AtlantiCare, the school welcomed a speaker who spoke about improving overall health, specifically the importance of sleep or how to make healthy choices when eating. Through the Kids 360 Activity program, the school welcomed a chef to show the students how to make healthy recipes. The school also participates in the American Heart Association’s Kids Challenge each February. The program works to create healthy programs like regular jump-rope competitions.

Martin Franco’s outstanding work doesn’t just stop in the classroom. At school, he created a pickleball tournament for local first responders. The tournament, which was organized by the fourth-grade class, featured teams composed of the Stone Harbor School staff, the police department, the fire department, and parents from the school.

Martin Franco is honored to be named Cape May County’s Teacher of the Year, a well-deserved accolade for all his hard work and dedication.

“There are still no words to describe how I feel,” he says. “As an educator, I always put my students and school community first. This recognition is not just for me; it is for all the Stone Harbor Elementary School family —from janitors to administration, board of education, families, students, and, of course, my fellow teachers who make Stone Harbor School an amazing place. This recognition means we are doing a lot of good things in our school district.”

In addition to teaching this fall, Martin Franco will also be returning to the classroom as a student. He will be pursuing a master’s degree in school administration at Rowan University. As for getting back into the swing of teaching after the summer months, he is eager to get started.

“I can’t wait to get back to an environment where I feel really comfortable,” he says. “I am lucky to do what I like most, which is teaching. Going to school every day gives me joy, and I enjoy every moment there. I can’t wait to get back to the classroom. Most importantly, I want to have fun with the students while being part of their learning process.”