Educator Recognition Event

Waterfire and Big Bang Science Fair and Brunch

Waterfire is a truly spectacular event, unique to RI. The river in downtown Providence, has metal containers which act as fireplaces, creating the experience of fires in the center of the river.

These fires are lit and kept burning for hours.

To have our RI Educator Recognition Event at Waterfire, is a real delight!!

Educators around the state were honored. It began as they and their guests were treated to delicious food prepared by students in culinary arts programs at our Career and Tech Schools.

Governor Raimondo talks about the
 importance of educators

Then, there were speeches by state dignitaries; among these were Governor Gina Raymond and Commissioner Wagner. All of the awardees were recognized individually and honored!

Towards the end of the ceremony, Kristin Hayes-Leite, 2018 RI Teacher of the Year, and one of my mentors, honored me with an introduction as this year's RI TOY.

Having prepared a speech, I was a little nervous, deeply humbled, and buoyant
to greet and recognize many of the innovative educators in the state that were representing!

With my mother and stepdad

With the support of my colleagues and my husband, I started off by asking the crowd to take a breath and notice. This then linked to our skill as educators to notice what's happening with our students and respond to that, providing all that we can for them--moments, people, opportunities, and inspiration.

We then served as the spark to light the flames of Waterfire. Each educator carried a torch, lighting the evening, a perfect representation of how educators light the flames of inspiration and learning in our classrooms and communities.

Superintendent Dr. Ken Duva,
librarian extraordinaire and 2019 Jamestown Teacher of the Year Lisa Casey,
me, and Nate Edmunds, principal of Lawn Avenue School,
Photo: Paulette Junge, Jamestown, RI

The evening was even more perfect because there were scientists hosting a Big Bang Science Fair at Waterfire that evening.

Once our celebratory crowd dispersed, I was able to geek out with new ideas on neutrinos, brain science, and Halidron Collider information!

Wow.

This continued to the next day, as I was invited to attend the Big Bang Science Fair brunch, I was overjoyed to join physicists and artists at brunch and discuss ways that the arts and sciences link and consider ways to connect more of our students to this. I am looking forward to following up on connections with scientists from Brown University to create opportunities of our students to keep learning and wondering!!

Photo Credits: Paulette Junge, Jamestown, RI