Michael DeFrancesco

Michael De Francesco is the Principal of Grafenwoehr Elementary School, part of USAG Bavaria, in Germany. Previously, he worked as the Assistant Principal of Baumholder Middle/High School for three years. He is excited for the opportunity to serve the students, families, staff, as well as the greater Grafenwöhr community as part of the Europe East District.

Mr. De Francesco was born and raised just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He attended and graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in English. In 2013, Mr. De Francesco earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from The University of Central Florida. 

Michael’s career in education began in Orange County Public Schools in Central Florida. For the better part of a decade. he worked teaching English, History, Mathematics, and Avid at Title 1 schools. He has taught and worked at Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. After nearly a decade in public schools, Michael started working for DoDEA in 2014 as a Staff Development Teacher at Vicenza Elementary School, part of the 21^st Century Teaching, Learning and Leading program. When that pilot ended, he moved to Sasebo, Japan to serve E.J. King Middle/High School as their Assistant Principal. He then moved to Europe West as the ISS for Assessment and Accreditation where he worked with 16 schools as they earned a District of Distinction award from Cognia. Throughout his career in education, Mr. De Francesco has worked to continuously improve student education, build strong relationships, and foster a caring and safe environment for all.

Mr. De Francesco believes that every student can succeed. It is the responsibility of the school to build a learning experience that will best serve the needs of each student and help them to become life-long learners. Working in collaborative teams, teachers, administrators, and families helps students to obtain the education necessary for them to be successful, gives them the tools they need to adapt and grow in the face of any obstacle they may meet, and provides the foundation necessary for their journey through a lifetime of learning. 

Supporting and accompanying Mr. De Francesco is Giulia, his wife of five years and his two-year-old son, Milo. Ms. Franzina is an accomplished Italian teacher, researcher, and linguist. They are overjoyed to be joining the Grizzly family and are excited to work with Community Superintendent, Dr. Hollie Becker along with the GES faculty, staff, and families as part of an established and respected team who have made Grafenwöhr among the best places to learn and work in DODEA.