Gene Franchini Mock Trial. An innovative, hands-on experience in the law for New Mexico middle school and high school students of all ages and abilities. Every year hundreds of New Mexico teenagers and their teacher advisors and attorney coaches spend the better part of the school year researching, studying and preparing a hypothetical courtroom trial involving issues that are important and interesting to young people.

The mock trial program awarded our first Teacher Coach of the Year Award. This year’s winner is Bill Torres from Cottonwood Classical. His students nominated him and had the following accolades: Despite splitting time between speech and debate obligations as well as a national qualifying We the People class, he still managed to take time to coach our team and help us strive for success in mock trial. He was very helpful in helping us cope with the inherently different environment that social distancing measures have created. Though a lot of people have struggled in the new environment, Mr. Torres has done a lot of work to try to help the students who are struggling the most and make this year that has been so had just a little bit easier. He has done what he can to help he consistently shows that he cares about his students. He also allows students to have the autonomy that they need to learn and grow from their experiences doing mock trial. He does his best to give students the support that they need and push them in the right direction, but he ultimately allows them to explore the content in their own way and to express themselves through it. I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Bill Torres and we are glad for the opportunity to represent him. CONGRATULATIONS!