Diana Franchini’s journey began in the suburbs of Chicago, Joliet, where she spent her early years. Her mother, a determined teen, moved the family to Texas to pursue her associate’s degree at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). This early exposure to the value of education instilled a deep respect for learning in Franchini and her sibling. The family eventually settled in Richardson, where her mother embarked on her first ‘real’ job at Texas Instruments, further reinforcing the importance of education in their lives. Franchini has lived in several cities along the I-35 corridor, including McAllen, Harlingen, Richardson, Allen, San Marcos, Seguin, Oak Cliff, Mesquite, and San Antonio. 

Upon completing her BA at Texas State, she taught grades 5-12 for 25 years before transitioning full-time to Community College. She was an adjunct at El Centro College, Joliet Junior College, and now at San Antonio College. She earned her MS in Secondary and Higher Education with a minor in Mathematics from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2005. 

She has had an extensive and varied teaching career. She taught in Texas for 15 years before moving to Tokyo to teach at a school for students with learning difficulties. She received extensive training in working with students on the spectrum. She lived there for 6 years, then moved to Abu Dhabi and taught at an international school. She was there for 4 years before returning to the States. She taught Spanish for a year in Joliet and was an adjunct at the country’s oldest Community College (Joliet Junior College). She then returned to Texas and taught at South San, where she was teacher of the year at South San High School, before landing her adjunct position at San Antonio College (SAC). She then transitioned to a full-time teaching position at SAC. 

Franchini has recently married and shares a home with her husband, his son, and their dog Chula.