Springdale’s Jazmin Carranza, Fort Smith’s Nicole Franklin among regional finalists for Arkansas Teacher of Year

Two area teachers are among the 14 regional finalists for the 2024 Arkansas Teacher of the Year award, according to an Arkansas Department of Education news release Wednesday. The area regional finalists are Jazmin Carranza, who teaches Algebra I in grades 8-9 at Springdale's Southwest Junior High School, and Nicole Franklin, who teaches English language arts and social studies in grades 4-5 at Fort Smith's Orr Elementary School. The educators will be honored July 27 at the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock. Each will receive a certificate and a $1,000...