Francesca Turturro
Francesca Turturro was born in Bronxville, New York and attended Fordham University’s
College of Arts of Science where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major: Urban
Studies and Spanish. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary degree with an emphasis on
Political Science, Sociology, Economics, and African-American Studies, all related to urban
environments. During all four college years, Francesca tutored at-risk students at Roosevelt
High School in the Bronx.
While obtaining a Master’s of Science in Teaching degree from Fordham University’s Graduate
School of Education, Francesca worked at Fordham’s Regional Educational Technology Center
and assisted in the coordination and management of the America Reads Challenge tutoring
program which was housed at the Center. In addition, she provided educational training
sessions in literacy tutoring and assessment to Fordham University tutors, as part of the
America Reads Challenge program.
Upon receiving her New York State elementary teaching certificate, Francesca began her career
as a New York City public school teacher and taught third grade. After her first year, she realized
that she wanted to teach high school Social Studies and began a position teaching U.S. History
and Government and Global History and Geography at the Academy of Our Lady of Good
Counsel High School in White Plains, New York where she taught for three years, while she
worked to obtain her secondary certification.
In 2005, Francesca relocated to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and began the process of obtaining
her PA teaching license. Currently, Francesca is certified to teach high school Social Studies in
both New York and Pennsylvania. While teaching World Cultures to 11th graders at a public
school in rural Pennsylvania, Francesca realized that her true passion was to engage and
empower young people beyond the classroom.
While currently serving as the Executive Director and Director of Programs for Youth Infusion, Inc., Francesca also works as the Coordinator of Leadership Pocono, a dynamic teaching institute that educates and transforms future leaders through interactive learning so that they can serve the needs of a growing and vibrant, diverse community.
When not working or volunteering in the community, Francesca spends time with her husband
Jim Dellavalle and their twin boys, Sebastian and Devin.