Collaborate, Educate, Innovate, Celebrate
Meet the 2024 Rhode Island
District Teachers of the Year
Aimee Couto
2024 Rhode Island State Teacher of the Year
Aimee has taught in the East Providence School District for 12 years. During that time, she has taught both 1st and 4th grade. She thrives on developing the foundational skills required for students to learn and become lifelong readers. She continues to enhance her own abilities and knowledge in this area through professional development. Aimee believes her students have the greatest opportunity for success when they are learning within the context of a relationship or community of trust, care, and respect. When they have a safe place to learn, it's a safe place to take risks and to share one's own work and ideas.
Tricia Abbott
2024 Chariho Teacher of the Year
Tricia Abbott is a Kindergarten teacher at Hope Valley Elementary School in the Chariho Regional School District. Tricia’s love for the Chariho School District began in 1978 in a second grade classroom at Richmond Elementary School. She is a graduate of the Chariho Regional School District and has spent her career teaching students in her beloved community. After completing her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education from Rhode Island College, she went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She has taught in a variety of roles in her 27 years beginning as a special educator for five years then transitioning to her current position as a Kindergarten teacher for the last 22 years. When she’s not in her classroom, you can find Tricia in an ice hockey rink, cheering on her sons.
Tricia is truly a lifelong learner. By embracing this mindset, Tricia continuously strives to improve her teaching practice and adapts to the changing needs of her students. She is fascinated by the continuous evolution of education and uses her leadership skills to implement new initiatives. While she teaches a rigorous curriculum with fidelity, she never loses sight of a child’s individual needs and the fact that they are five years old.
When Tricia describes teaching and learning at Hope Valley School, she calls it her “happy place.” Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating meaningful relationships with her students. Tricia advocates for her students and is able to connect with each of them in a unique way. Her former students know they are always welcome back for a chat, smile or a hug…and they do. She is a firm believer in social emotional learning and she adopts the motto, “If some students are unresponsive, maybe you can’t teach them today, but you can love them. And if you love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow.”
Deanna Agresti
2024 East Greenwich Teacher of the Year
Deanna Agresti is the Design & Photography instructor at East Greenwich High School. She holds degrees in Graphic Design and Art Education from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her teaching experience spans various Rhode Island school districts and the Community College of Rhode Island. Deanna's teaching thrives through hands-on collaborations with students, resulting in projects like a district-wide visual identity for the East Greenwich Public Schools. In her classroom, Deanna aims for students to have a calm and safe space, where they can unleash creativity and build connections throughout the school day.
Outside of her teaching role, she also engages as a freelance graphic designer, dedicating her skills to non-profit initiatives. Furthermore, Deanna recently completed writing and illustrating a children's book.
More than a decade ago, Deanna and a former student jointly established the BeautifyEGHS club at East Greenwich High School. This club actively seeks opportunities to integrate design and art into the school environment. Its triumph has since ignited a parallel initiative at her daughters' school. Beyond the classroom and design endeavors, Deanna is the President of her daughters' elementary school PTO. Here, her love for enhancing the school environment takes a community-centric turn. Deanna has poured her heart into revamping the school's blacktop, bathrooms and hallways with colorful designs, creating spaces where students not only find comfort but also feel deeply valued.
Fritz Benz
2024 South Kingstown Teach of the Year
Fritz Benz has been the Instrumental Music Director at South Kingstown High School in Rhode Island since 2016 where he currently teaches music theory and conducts all of the school’s orchestra and band instrumental ensembles. He previously directed the award-winning bands for twenty four years at North Smithfield High School and has held teaching positions at Providence College and the University of Rhode Island. He is an active freelance musician on trumpet and in the RI-based band, Brass Attack. Additionally, he serves on the Executive Board of the Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) and has been a a contributing author to state and national publications. Fritz has served as a state music festival adjudicator, clinician, and All- State/Regional Conductor throughout Southern New England.
Fritz believes in the intrinsic power of the music experience and strives to help all of his students to reach their individual and collective potential as musicians, students and citizens in their community. The musical collaboration in band and orchestra is unique, where every day is a group project with authentic learning experiences embedded in everything we do. By achieving success and excellence in the little things, we foster excellence in all things, and positively impact the student’s entire educational and personal life.
Susan Brown
2024 Rhode Island School for the Deaf Teach of the Year
Susan Brown is an educator with a rich background in deaf education. She embarked on her academic journey with an athletic scholarship at Boston University, showcasing both her intellectual and physical skills. Subsequently, she earned her graduate degree in Deaf education from McDaniels University. For the past four years, Susan has been a member of the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, where she passionately imparts the gift of reading to her students. Prior to joining the educational staff at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Susan dedicated 25 years of her career to the New Bedford Public Schools as a teacher of the Deaf and a reading specialist. In addition to working in the field of education, Susan previously served as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. She is also a nationally certified sign language interpreter and works in the local Massachusetts community as an interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
As a devoted educator, Susan is constantly in search of innovative strategies to cultivate positive outcomes for her students. Her primary goal is to empower each individual to unearth their true potential. She firmly believes that instilling a growth mindset within the classroom sets the stage for a transformative learning experience. By fostering an environment that encourages adaptability and embraces challenges, Susan guides her students towards new opportunities that lie beyond their comfort zones. This approach not only nurtures their academic growth but also equips them with invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the classroom walls.
Torie Caldarone
2024 Smithfield Teach of the Year
Torie Caldarone is a special education teacher at Raymond C. LaPerche Elementary School in Smithfield. She was born and raised in Glocester, Rhode Island, and has since made it her forever home with her husband Ben and German Short-haired pointer Gunner. After graduating from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education, Torie began her role teaching special education at LaPerche and is now heading into her seventh year.
From the very beginning, Torie knew she wanted to be an educator and had a love for learning. She now strives to instill that very love into her students every day. She leads by example and continues to learn and grow through countless professional development opportunities including social-emotional learning, dyslexia awareness, and inclusion institutions. After school hours, Torie professionally tutors and has donated her time at a dance studio specializing in inclusion. She believes all students should be valued for who they are as individuals and have a sense of belonging in their classroom communities. She advocates for all students and runs inclusion programs within her building to create and promote inclusive learning.
Erica Connolly
2024 Jamestown Teach of the Year
Erica Connolly is the Elementary Artist-Teacher at the Jamestown Melrose School. This will be Erica's sixth year teaching Art in Jamestown, and her 22nd year as an Elementary Art Educator. Erica received her BA in Art from Framingham State College, and her MA in Art Education from Boston University. Erica's enthusiastic pursuit as an Elementary Art Educator continues to be a truly wonderful and rewarding endeavor, rich with the challenges and joys that accompany working with young Artists. Erica is very passionate about cultivating a dynamic and robust Visual Arts experience for our youngest Artists. She believes in the importance of having a strong Elementary Art curriculum, being a part of a thriving Arts community, and equipping our Artists with the 21st century skills of creativity, innovative reasoning, and problem solving, not to mention the countless SEL benefits Art Education provides.
As an Art Educator, Erica is eager to guide her young Artists towards an appreciation of Art, Art History, and our beautiful coastal island surroundings of Jamestown. Erica believes it is through authentic Art Studio experiences, and student-centered, choice-based learning, that students will be able to awaken their creativity, and reveal their inner Artists. Erica simultaneously offers a variety of media centers in the Art Studio, where Artists are able to delve deeply into the areas of Art that interest them most, and make important discoveries that lead to positive self-expression, and a life-long love of Art!
Kristen Coyne
2024 Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Teach of the Year
Kristen "Kris" Coyne is a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching high school math and physics. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kris embarked on her teaching journey in 2009, and since then, she has left her mark in five different high schools across four diverse states: Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland, and Rhode Island. Kris's versatility as an educator shines through her ability to adapt to various educational settings, including public, Catholic, and charter high schools, and her experience spans all-girls, all-boys, and coeducational institutions.
Armed with a degree in mathematics and a minor in physics, Kris has consistently inspired and empowered her students to excel in these challenging subjects. Her commitment to education is further demonstrated by her completion of a master's degree in education in 2015, which has equipped her with the pedagogical expertise needed to foster meaningful learning experiences. Mrs. Coyne's unwavering dedication to her students and her passion for math and physics education make her a valuable asset to the educational communities she serves, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of countless students she has guided throughout her career.
Kerry D'Angelo
2024 Bristol-Warren Teach of the Year
Kerry D’Angelo is an English teacher at Mt. Hope High School in the Bristol-Warren Regional School District, where she has taught for the last twenty years. Over her tenure, Kerry taught three grade levels and several electives; this year, Kerry teaches eleventh grade English. Originally from Massachusetts, Kerry moved to Rhode Island to attend Salve Regina University, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and English. As she was hired immediately following receiving her undergraduate degree, Kerry earned her Masters in Secondary Education and English from the University of Rhode Island while in her first years of teaching. Active in multiple aspects of high school life, Kerry was appointed Teacher Leader of the Humanities Department two years ago. In this role, she organizes and advocates for teachers in three departments.
Much of Kerry’s drive comes from the desire to empower those students who feel they cannot and/or do not want to learn, and one of her greatest strengths is her passion to engage even the most apathetic and reluctant students. Known as “Mama Bear” to her students, Kerry focuses on creating and maintaining the most safe and productive learning environment possible. She thrives on formulating meaningful relationships with her students, and she truly believes that when students feel as though their teacher cares about them, they can overcome any obstacle and they will achieve amazing things.
Staci Del Deo
2024 Tiverton Teacher of the Year
Staci Del Deo is a seventh-grade math teacher at Tiverton Middle School where she has been teaching for the last 10 years. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Rhode Island College, Staci began working at Kickemuit Middle School in Warren, Rhode Island where she taught 6th and 7th grade mathematics and science on an arts magnet looping team. When her first child was born, Staci took a seven year hiatus from teaching to raise her young children. She returned to teaching when she was offered a position at Portsmouth Middle School teaching 8th grade mathematics. She remained at Portsmouth Middle School for three years teaching both 7th and 8th grade mathematics during her time there. Finally, Staci returned “home” to Tiverton Middle School, the very place where her own teachers inspired her as a student. The impact it had on her as a teacher to return to the place where she was educated was profound. She has held various positions over the last decade in Tiverton including 6th and 7th grade mathematics, 7th grade science and 7th and 8th grade math intervention.
Having loved math since she was a child, Staci pursued her dream of teaching mathematics with the intent of sharing her love of the subject with her students. Her goal for her students each year is to make math approachable, challenging, and FUN for them. When her students leave her she wants them to feel confident in their abilities in math and empowered by them. To achieve this goal Staci embraces a warm demander approach in the classroom. She builds strong relationships with her students and works to create a classroom culture where her students feel comfortable to take risks, make mistakes and support one another in their learning.
Kimberly DiTusa
2024 North Providence Teacher of the Year
Kimberly DiTusa is a seventh and eighth grade science teacher at Dr. E. A. Ricci Middle School in North Providence. She has been teaching at Ricci Middle School for the past 19 years. Kim received her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with a Middle School endorsement for both science and history from Rhode Island College. Upon graduating, she took a long term substitute position at Birchwood Middle school in North Providence for one year, then went on to her current position at Ricci Middle School. Over the years at Ricci, Kim has taught science at all three grade levels - sixth, seventh and eighth - and is the science content leader. While working at Ricci, she has earned her Masters in Counseling from Providence College.
Teaching science drives the learning environment in Kim's classroom. In both science and life, she focuses on creating a classroom where students are not afraid to make mistakes. She tries to instill in her students the belief that by making mistakes, they have an opportunity to learn from those mistakes and develop skills such as persistence and perseverance to find a solution to the problem presented.
Bridget Dufault
2024 Pawtucket Teacher of the Year
Bridget Dufault is a first-grade teacher at F. J. Varieur school in Pawtucket. Bridget has been teaching in the city of Pawtucket for over 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Special Education from Rhode Island College in 1999. Over the years she has taught kindergarten, first and second grade. She has been in her current first- grade position at F.J. Varieur for the past eight years.
Bridget believes in the importance of developing positive relations with her students, one in which they feel cared for and supported. With this she hopes to instill a love of learning and inspire her students to become lifelong learners.
Amy Goldblatt
2024 The Compass School Teacher of the Year
Amy Goldblatt is a third and fourth grade teacher in a multi-age classroom at The Compass School in Kingston, RI where she has been an educator for the last 7 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in elementary education at New York Institute of Technology. She has been working with Root Literacy Design to become a model Science of Reading and Structured Literacy classroom since 2020. Amy has recently become a professional development workshop series and conference presenter, supporting teachers around Rhode Island in the implementation of the Science of Reading.
Amy grew up in New York, but spent all of her summers in Narragansett, RI. She loves singing, dancing, and teaching, and is so happy that she finally found her niche in the classroom where she can do all three. She most enjoys teaching students how to read, recognizing that doing so gives them the tools they need to unlock all opportunities that come their way in life.
Jessica Higgins
2024 Little Compton Teacher of the Year
Jessica Higgins, a wife and mother of three, a teenage daughter and two adult stepchildren, is a fifth grade math and science teacher at Wilbur & McMahon School in Little Compton, RI. This is her third year teaching 5th grade, though she has been teaching for the past 10 years in grades Pre-K through 6th up and down the East Coast. She is a lifelong learner that integrates her unique adventures throughout the country with her interest in marine science and math to share with her students, extending their educational experience and contributing to her belief that anyone can achieve their goals if they put their minds to it. Jessica grew up in Princeton, a small town in central Massachusetts. She earned her bachelors in Fine Arts - Graphic Design from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Shortly after she met her husband, an active duty Coast Guardsman. The USCG had the family stationed in Massachusetts, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, while visiting many other states in between. After 12 years as a graphic designer, while living in Alabama, Jessica volunteered to substitute at her daughter’s preschool. Thereafter she transferred to a full time commitment, substitute teaching with the Mobile County Public Schools and instructing after school art classes. Together, these decisions were a career changing moment. The family soon relocated to North Carolina where Jessica continued teaching at a small private school. In North Carolina she taught Kindergarten and second grade. In 2018 Jessica and her family started to prepare for her husband’s retirement after 24 years active duty in the United States Coast Guard. While traveling around the country was exciting, it was time to return home to New England. Jessica pursued her love for teaching by commencing her Master’s in Elementary Education, preparing her to enter the public school arena in the Northeast. The following year the family moved to Little Compton, RI. Jessica applied to the Little Compton School District as a substitute where she finished her student teaching. She earned her Master’s degree during the trying times of COVID in the spring of 2020. Thereafter at Wilbur & McMahon, Jessica substituted long term both in 4th and 6th grade math and science. In 2021, she was promoted to full time 5th grade math and science teaching where she continued her passionate commitment to education by completing the Science of Reading Pathways to Proficient Reading and Restorative Practice Professional Development Programs. Additionally, she began working on her Google Educator Certification. This past year Jessica incorporated additional supplemental programs into her curriculum. She welcomed 100 "new students" from the RI DEM Salmon in the Classroom Program for 3 months. In May, 80% of the salmon were released successfully into the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed. With this success she intends to introduce Salmonids to the students again this year. Additionally, Jessica turned the classroom into a recording studio where she documented student STEM questions to ask NASA International Space Station astronauts. Early this fall, she celebrated NASA Lollapalooza, organized through RISTA and Senator Jack Reed's office, with the whole district as one of her student’s questions was chosen to be answered live! Later this season Jessica and her students will step out of the classroom and join Save the Bay on a Narragansett Bay Educational Cruise for the second year, testing, trawling, observing, and recording scientific and mathematical data from the local aquatic ecosystem. Lastly, Jessica was chosen to join the Teachers at Sea, a NOAA educator research experience with scientists and other RI educators, on the open ocean for three days aboard the r/v Endeavor of URI. Her plans are to continue her commitment to enhancing her student’s education with her personal experiences by returning with marine observations and data that she will incorporate into her instruction and share with her seaside community.
Victoria Kavanagh
2024 Kingston Hill Academy Teach of the Year
Victoria (Tory) Kavanagh is an elementary special education teacher at Kingston Hill Academy in Saunderstown where she has been working for the past four years. Tory grew up in South Kingstown and went to Rhode Island College where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education. Tory started her career at a behavioral school in Woonsocket then taught in Johnston for a year before finding her way to Kingston Hill Academy. Throughout her career, she has always taught special education as it is her passion.
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Tory loves being a special education teacher and had known this was the career for her she was in first grade. She believes that each student is capable of great things when given the proper support and opportunities. As part of a school wide initiative, Tory was recently Orton Gillingham certified and has enjoyed learning more about teaching foundational reading skills to struggling learners. She enjoys creating a fun, safe learning environment for her students to thrive and grow.
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Maryhelen Khoury
2024 Foster/Glocester Teach of the Year
Maryhelen Khoury is an 8th grade science teacher at Ponaganset Middle School entering her 17th year as a teacher. She has worked for the Foster-Glocester Regional School District since 2010 and previously taught within the Exeter-West Greenwich and the Woonsocket School Districts. Maryhelen is a native Rhode Islander and, like many other Rhode Islanders, remained close to home and attended the University of Rhode Island. During her time at URI, Maryhelen taught as a substitute preschool teacher for a Cranston private school and fell in love with teaching. She pursued her passion for teaching and earned her Bachelor's Degree from URI, double majoring in Elementary Education and Biology and minoring in Art and Apparel Design. She also received her Middle School Endorsement and has been a middle school teacher since graduating from URI. While teaching, Maryhelen additionally went on to earn her Master's Degree in ESL and Cross Cultural Studies from Brown University.
Overall, Maryhelen’s creativity and passion for education helps to excite students about science and learning. Maryhelen has made it her focus to foster a fun and energetic classroom where all students feel welcome and comfortable. She often incorporates humor into her lessons and looks to create interactive ways to engage her students on new topics, hoping to inspire a love for the sciences and learning. Maryhelen also emphasizes the importance of making and learning from mistakes with her students. She wants her students to understand that mistakes are a natural part of learning and that they often lead to learning opportunities and discoveries. Maryhelen further focuses on designing her lessons to give her students the problem solving and communication skills they will need to be curious and confident lifelong learners. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Maryhelen enjoys planning and taking part in events and trips to help students incorporate unexpected fun into their educational experiences. She is involved in several leadership committees and has held coaching positions for softball, field hockey, robotics, indoor and outdoor track and, most recently, volleyball. Her husband and two sons can often be found at events cheering for her and her students.
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Francesca Leclerc
2024 Providence Public Schools Teach of the Year
Francesca Leclerc is an English teacher and theatre director at Classical High School. She taught in South Africa for seven years before beginning her career in the Providence Public School District. She holds a bachelor's degree, with majors in English and Theater from the University of Durban- Westville in South Africa and is currently completing her Masters in MLL. Francesca is a National Board-Certified teacher. She teaches 12th grade and is an essay reader of AP literature and Composition for the College Board.
Francesca was raised in South Africa during the apartheid years, attending segregated schools for her entire education. She brings this experience, a background of a collectivist culture and her persona of storyteller to her teaching, positioning students for academic excellence and social responsibility. She finds freedom in the classroom where she can discuss, with her students, existentialism one day and laugh with them about why Romeo may be a fool the next. As the theater director, Francesca pairs with community artists in providing rich platforms for social and sensory participation to improve mental and physical health. She strongly advocates for authors of color to be moved out of the margins of independent reading to the core curriculum. Francesca believes that excellent teaching is a natural outcome of seeing the worth of every student and that teaching is among the worthiest of pursuits.
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Tammy Lemieux
2024 Cumberland Teach of the Year
Tammy Lemieux is a special education teacher at Cumberland High School who currently works in the TRADE program. Students in the TRADE (Training Responsible Adults in Diverse Environments) program are between the ages of 18 and 22, who are working on developing vocational skills as well as life skills to be used both in the community and home.
Prior to her current role, Tammy worked as the special education coordinator for Cumberland High School and John J. McLaughlin Elementary School. In this position, Tammy worked with students, families, and staff to develop individualized education programs to meet students’ needs. Prior to entering the education field, Tammy Lemieux worked in the legal field as both an executive secretary and paralegal. She returned to school and received her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Rhode Island College. She continued her education at Rhode Island College, and she earned her Master Degree in Multicultural Special Education.
Tammy also enjoys her role as a Unified Volleyball coach and as advisor to the Helping Hands/Interact Club. She was recently acknowledged by the Mae Organization, which supports people who are homeless, with a Humanitarian Award for her volunteerism and sharing the vision of volunteerism with her students. Tammy takes pride in her work with people with disabilities both in and out of the school setting.
Suzanne Machinski
2024 Westerly Teach of the Year
Suzanne Machinski is a fifth grade teacher at Westerly Middle School. Throughout her 22 year teaching career, Suzanne has also taught kindergarten, first, and third grade. Suzanne grew up in Westerly and attended the University of Rhode Island to earn a degree in Elementary Education. A few years ago, Suzanne completed a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Building strong relationships with students and colleagues guides Suzanne's work in and out of the classroom.
Joseph Mellen
2024 Lincoln Teacher of the Year
Joseph Mellen is a Special Educator in Grade 5 starting his 19th year teaching. He has been a special educator his entire career spending most of his time at Northern Lincoln Elementary. He has taught grades 4, 5, and 6 at Northern and grade 8 at Lincoln Middle School. He has played the role of self-contained teacher, inclusion teacher, and now his favorite role as a special educator working with resource and intensive resource students in grade 5. He is all about meeting the needs of all students academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. He truly enjoys working with all students and focuses on the whole child. He is most passionate about meeting the needs of the most reluctant learners and willing to do whatever it takes to get them to realize their best potential. Joseph hopes to continue to motivate all students to be their best self in the classroom and outside the classroom!
Lyle Nesse
2024 William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School Teach of the Year
Lyle Nesse graduated from NYU with an interdisciplinary degree in 2006 and returned home to Maryland to volunteer at a school for children with autism and disabilities. This experience inspired Lyle to join Teach For America. While teaching in Baltimore City Public Schools, Lyle earned his Master of Science in Education degree and graduate certificate in school administration and supervision from Johns Hopkins University. After seven years in Baltimore, Lyle moved to Rhode Island with his wife and became an English teacher at Davies. Over the last few years, Lyle has become an AP and Pre-AP teacher who works to support students at Davies Career and Technical High School (a CTE school in Lincoln, RI) in accessing rigorous curricula and exams. Lyle has completed AP professional development and joined a group of AP teachers who share resources and ideas. Has has also become an AP summer reader, working with colleagues to score the essays of over 500,000 students who took the AP exam. Lyle was rehired as an AP reader for 2023.
Lyle believes that an English classroom should be a place where all students are excited to share their thoughts, know those thoughts are valued, and expect to be heard. Students should come to class prepared with ideas and curious to bounce those ideas off their peers and teacher. The key actions Lyle encourages in English class form a self-sustaining stream of reading, thinking, speaking, outlining, writing, and editing. He believes that students should see themselves reflected in relevant and engaging texts and topics that are covered in class.
In his spare time, Lyle enjoys playing guitar and drums, and he has started an after-school music program with the students at Davies Career and Technical High School.
Milissa O'Neil
2024 Warwick Teacher of the Year
Milissa O’Neil is a Kindergarten teacher at Oakland Beach Elementary School in Warwick where she has been teaching for the past 10 years and embraces the opportunities to volunteer in the school community. After receiving a Bachelor's degree from Wheelock College, she continued her education to receive her Special Education teaching certification. Milissa is a Teacher Leader for the Warwick School’s GEMS-Net through URI. She participates in district initiatives such as the curriculum design and pacing for mathematics and the development team for standards-based report cards. Milissa also created a Title I Jump Start Kindergarten Program, in addition to running many afterschool programs through the X-Stream Learning Center at Oakland Beach School. Often, Milissa will seek additional learning opportunities to enhance her teaching practice such as participating in the pilot cohort of the Integrated STEM Professional Learning for K-5 at Rhode Island College. Milissa spends a great deal of time creating a safe and rigorous learning environment for her students to succeed. Milissa participates in Conscious Discipline training and uses the tenets of this methodology, as well as Responsive Classroom, to create a culture where everyone is valued. Milissa refers to their classroom as a “school family.”
Milissa is passionate about social and emotional learning and working with our youngest learners. As a reflective practitioner, Milissa continues to enhance her own abilities and knowledge in this area through ongoing professional development. She strives to create a community of learners that nurtures growth, to enable young learners to become problem solvers, communicators, and lifelong learners. She creates a safe learning environment by building trusting relationships and developing pro-social skills.
She is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all her students. She is also known for her ability to inspire students to achieve their academic and social-emotional skills. Milissa has the passion and drive to push her students to their full potential while preparing her students for 21st century learning.
Connie Oswald
2024 Barrington Teach of the Year
Connie Oswald is a sixth grade teacher at Barrington Middle School. She is starting her 20th year at BMS after having various teaching positions in South Dakota, New Hampshire, and New York. She is a firm believer that all students want to feel success in learning and have cherished each experience that her career has given her. Whether it was with Sioux Indian students or suburban New York students she found commonalities in the students desire to do well and how difficult it was for them to realize that mistakes are part of learning. Creating a classroom atmosphere where students can feel safe taking risks and feeling supported became a primary focus of her career. Connie teaches math which is a true dedication for her because her elementary and middle school years did not instill a love of learning math or a feeling of success. When she became a teacher she knew that she wanted to help all students realize their potential and feel success. She thrives on helping students realize that they enter each year at their own math level and it is probably different from many others. Personal growth becomes each students' goal. Connie stresses the importance of collaboration in project work where students can apply the skills that they are learning. She helps her students realize that there are many ways to demonstrate learning. Every little positive that can happen in a classroom exponentially grows into more confidence and effort towards each new assignment.
Kristen Papa
2024 Foster Teacher of the Year
Kristen Papa is a fourth grade teacher at Captain Isaac Paine elementary school in Foster. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island in elementary education, and fell in love with teaching fourth graders. She started her teaching career in Providence, but left teaching to be a stay at home mother with her three daughters. She returned to teaching when her youngest daughter started kindergarten and feels so fortunate to be a teacher in the Foster School District.
Kristen believes in creating a positive classroom community where all students can thrive as learners. She is passionate about differentiating instruction, developing a growth mindset, and incorporating social emotional learning opportunities throughout the day. She is a lifelong learner who is constantly looking for ways to improve her science, math, and language arts instruction so that her students are successful. She collaborates with her coworkers and families to better meet her students’ needs. She focuses on building upon students’ strengths while creating a classroom where students are engaged with learning. She believes that the classroom should be a place where everyone feels supported so they can enjoy learning together.
Analisa Pereira
2024 International Charter School Teach of the Year
Analisa Pereira is the daughter of Portuguese immigrants. She was born in Pawtucket Rhode Island and has been a lifelong resident of Cumberland since. She has also had the privilege of living and attending school in the village where her parents were born when she was 8 years old.
Her parents have always worked hard to provide the best for their family. Through their hard work, dedication, and principles, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), both from Rhode Island College, and fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.
Currently, she is the Portuguese/English fifth-grade teacher, in a dual language model, at the International Charter School (ICS) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. This is her twelfth year as a teacher. Her favorite subjects to teach are Math and Reading.
Analisa is very involved in student leadership at ICS. She is the co-chair of the fifth-grade Student Committee and the fourth-grade Junior Coaches. As an advocate for children, her goal is to provide enriching experiences that enable students to become productive, open-minded, and caring members of the world.
Dorene Phillips
2024 Portsmouth Teacher of the Year
Dorene Phillips, a dedicated music educator and accomplished band director, has devoted over 30 years to shaping the musical talents of Rhode Island's youth. Graduating from the University of Lowell with a degree in Music Education in 1991 and later earning a Masters degree in Education from the University of New England, Dorene began her teaching journey in the Woonsocket Public School System, where she taught at various elementary schools for seven years before transitioning to the middle school for three years. In 2001, she found her calling at Portsmouth Middle School and has since spent 23 years there, nurturing and inspiring young musicians with her unwavering passion for music education. Her legacy as a tireless advocate for musical excellence continues to resonate within the Portsmouth School Community.
Kristyn-Anne Pinheiro
2024 East Providence School District Teach of the Year
Kristyn-Anne Pinheiro is a middle school Multilingual Learner (MLL) teacher at Riverside Middle School in East Providence. However, she began teaching in Anchorage, Alaska! She first started substitute teaching in the Anchorage School District in the fall of 2010. Since then, she has worked in a public charter school, the Providence School District, and now is in her fourth year in East Providence. Kristyn-Anne loves being an honorary Townie!
She grew up in New York with her parents, older brother, and older sister. Now she lives here in Rhode Island with her husband and three kids. Her favorite part of being a teacher is that we have the opportunity to impact people’s lives, and often don’t know who we have impacted or how much of a difference we have made. She also loves how much she is able to learn from her students. Everyone has such unique experiences and worldviews. Having the opportunity to be a lifelong learner is so special!
Jessica Quenga
2024 Southside Elementary Charter SchoolTeach of the Year
Jessica Quenga is a fourth-grade teacher at SouthSide Elementary Charter School in Providence, RI. Previously, she taught fourth-grade at St. Teresa School in Pawtucket, RI, Woonsocket Public Schools, and Cranston Public Schools. After receiving her degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail University, Jessica worked at an event production company in Chicago before returning to her home state of Rhode Island and working at a telecommunications company for seven years. In 2011, she decided to return to school to pursue her degree in Elementary Education. She graduated in 2015 and began teaching in 2016.
Jessica is passionate about having a classroom that is a welcoming and safe place for all students. A place where it is okay to make mistakes and be your true self. She gets to know each student and uses frequent check-ins through formal and informal assessments to drive instruction and help each student succeed. In addition to her work in the classroom, Jessica serves as a mentor teacher for her colleagues, implemented new programs for streamlining lesson planning and reporting, and a new platform to increase family engagement. She serves on the School Improvement Team and is dedicated to the growth and success of her students as well as her school as a whole.
Heather Roberti
2024 West Warwick Teach of the Year
Heather Roberti is a long time Wizard of West Warwick Rhode Island. Her family is from West Warwick and she and her twin sister are proud West Warwick High School graduates. Heather and her husband Bryan and their son Bryan Jr. (8th grader at Deering Middle School in West Warwick) live in West Warwick and she couldn't be prouder to represent her district of West Warwick as a the District Teacher of The Year. After graduating from WWHS, Heather went on to earn her degree from Boston University and returned back to WWHS to teach math. She taught at the high school for 17 years, before moving to an exciting STEM position at DMS and then to the school counseling department at Deering Middle School. Heather loves facing each day with a positive attitude. She is living her dream right now - helping the students, teachers, administration, and the families of West Warwick. There is no other district she would rather be working in!
Taylor Rock
2024 Newport Public Schools Teach of the Year
Taylor Rock is a Seventh Grade Science Teacher at Frank E. Thompson Middle School In Newport. He has worked for Newport Public Schools over the past nine years first at Rogers High School as a science and technology teacher then the Dean of Students and for the last seven at Frank E. Thompson in the middle school science classroom.
Taylor loved learning and also struggled with traditional academics at times as a student. It was not until studying for a graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning that he truly gained confidence in his academic abilities. This came through project based learning and community planning projects with Native Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Islander Communities on the Island of Oahu. When he returned to Rhode Island he began working at The Paul W. Crowley East Bay Met School where he revitalized the East Bay Met Green Team by working with students to mitigate the school's waste stream and engaged in a wide range of environmental science work. Work that was eventually recognized by environmental organizations including the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Due to his own success with project based learning as well as the success of his students, Taylor champions hands-on and experiential learning in his classroom and on trips with students around the region. Taylor partners with The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, newportFILM, Sail Newport and Casey Farm amongst others to help enrich the science curriculum for his students.
Marissa Rodriguez
2024 Beacon Charter Schools Teach of the Year
Marissa Rodriguez is a history teacher at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts in Woonsocket, where she has taught young artists for the past 8 years. From an early age, she loved reading and learning about new places, which helped foster a love for history. Thanks to the inspiration of some wonderful educators, it was a lifelong dream to become a history teacher. Marissa knew that educators have the power to motivate and inspire a love of learning, and she attended Rhode Island College, earning her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education Social Studies, with a graduate certificate in Middle School Education. She is currently pursuing her MA in American History from Gettysburg College.
Marissa’s educational focus is on the belief that all students deserve to find their passion. By incorporating a variety of topics and skills into her history class, she hopes to help students find a spark of interest that they can connect with long after they leave her classroom. Some of Marissa’s favorite moments in life include former students reconnecting with her to tell her how her class helped to inspire their careers and interests.
Malaree Shields
2024 North Kingstown Teach of the Year
Malaree Shields has been a high school teacher at North Kingstown High School for the past 8 years, working as both a science and engineering teacher. A graduate of Salve Regina University, Malaree has taught a diverse range of science, engineering, and robotics classes at a wide variety of levels. However, it is her role as the assistant coach of NORTH Robotics that holds a special place in her heart. Malaree takes immense pride in the exceptional students she mentors who are innovative thinkers, determined problems solvers, and are exceptionally kind and service minded individuals.
ShaLayla Simmons
2024 Trinity Academy of the Performing Arts Teach of the Year
ShaLayla (she/her) is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she earned her BA in Theatre Arts, and the University of Houston, Victoria where she earned her M.Ed in Educational Leadership. She has been afforded the amazing opportunity to combine her passions for theatre and education by working as a fine arts educator in Houston before joining the TAPA team here in Providence. She is passionate about performance, and has enjoyed performing in Houston as a member of the Legacy Theatre Company, as well as Founder and Director for the Champion Troupe Theatre Ensemble, but her most rewarding role is the role she gets to fill daily as an educator of the arts where she has the privilege of actively engaging students in the craft by creating lessons and facilitating instruction for students while preparing them to create shows for school and community- she sees it as a duty and honor to ensure theatre arts is accessible to all students.
Brigette Spina
2024 Woonsocket Teach of the Year
My name is Mrs. Brigette Spina, and I am a Special Education Teacher (SID) at Woonsocket Middle School - Villa Nova. It is my twelveth year at Woonsocket Middle School. Before coming to Woonsocket, I taught students with special needs at a private school for five years. I enjoy teaching all types of learners and I am experienced in differentiating instruction to meet each student’s individual needs. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Special Education - Significant Intellectual Disabilities.
Christina Tetreault
2024 Blackstone Valley Prep Teach of the Year
My name is Christina Tetreault, I am a First Grade Teacher at Blackstone Valley Prep in Cumberland. Rhode Island. I live in Burrillville RI and have lived there most of my life. I graduated from Rhode Island College with a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education.
I began teaching 23 years ago at Wee Wonders Child Care in Woonsocket, RI as a Preschool Teacher and then transitioned to Blackstone Valley Prep 10 years ago where I started as a Kindergarten teacher for 3 years, moved into First Grade for 5 years and now the First Grade Chair and classroom teacher for the past 2 years.
In the classroom, my primary focus is Social-Emotional-Learning of all my scholars. My belief is scholars need to feel safe and cared for in my classroom before they can do any academic learning. I make sure to give space for scholars to talk about their emotions and provide a time every morning during our Community Circle to talk as a classroom community about our feelings or concerns so we can start our day with a positive mindset. My goal is to be their role model so they can become amazing leaders and learners in their community.
Stefanie Vantine
2024 ScituateTeacher of the Year
Stefanie Vantine is a band director at Scituate Middle/ High School in Scituate, RI where she has been teaching since 2002. She teaches grades 6 through 12 and also serves as the Music Department Chair. Throughout her time in Scituate, she has worked to add a piano lab, guitar studio and Early Enrollment classes to the already well established band and chorus classes. Stefanie previously taught in Hanover Township, NJ and Norwich Public Schools, CT. One of Stefanie's greatest joys as an educator is to work with student teachers and their respective colleges on the enjoyment of teaching music and creating a respectful, caring school community.
Excellence through music has always been words to live by in Stefanie's playbook. Her classrooms demonstrate this not only in skill, but also perseverance, determination, kindness, integrity, and character. Stefanie thrives in instilling compassion with personal excellence demonstrated through music. Recently, the Scituate High School Band was selected to perform at the Coast Guard Academy which was one of Stefanie's favorite musical experiences with her students and in her career.
Stefanie takes her own words of "experiencing excellence" to other aspects of her life including riding horses. She has been an avid equestrian since childhood. Other interests include outdoor adventures and cooking with her husband, and her love for her dogs.
Amy Wheeler
2024 Johnston Teach of the Year
Amy Wheeler is currently an eighth grade special educator at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School in Johnston where she has worked for the past sixteen years. One of those years she was the Intensive Reading Teacher for grades six though eight. Prior to working at Ferri, Amy worked at Brown Avenue Elementary School in Johnston as a Resource teacher and a self-contained teacher for her first six years teaching. This is her twenty-third year teaching.
Amy received her Bachelor of Science from Rhode Island College in 2001 with a degree in Elementary Education grades one through six and Special Education mild/moderate grades kindergarten through eighth. In 2008, Amy received her Master's Degree as a reading specialist from Rhode Island College. In December 2022, she received an MLL endorsement from Rhode Island College.
Amy grew up in Johnston and attended Johnston schools. It is because of the Johnston teachers she had, that she is a teacher today. Amy realized that she wanted to be just like the incredible teachers in Johnston that she had who nurtured and educated her. She wanted to make an impact on other's lives just like they had exemplified for her every school day. Amy learned from them that teaching isn't just about getting up in front of a class and sharing knowledge, but it is also about collaborating, adapting, communicating, listening, being engaging, showing empathy, and developing trusting relationships. Amy strives to incorporate all of this into her teaching on a daily basis.
Thomas Yeaw
2024 North Smithfield Teach of the Year
Thomas Yeaw is a high school mathematics teacher at North Smithfield High School where he has been teaching for the past 26 years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Masters of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from Rhode Island College. Thomas began his teaching career at the Prout School for two years before moving on to his current position in North Smithfield where he has also been the Mathematics Department Head for 16 years.
Throughout Thomas' teaching career, he has worked hard at developing a positive relationship with his students based on mutual trust and respect. Making this connection with students allows them to become intellectual risk takers, and helps them build confidence that he is there to help his students at each step along their educational journey. Along with his work in the classroom, Thomas is a part of the school Leadership Team, School Improvement Team, NEASC self study standard leader, National Honor Society Faculty Council, and Math Team Advisor.