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Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year
2025 Teacher of the Year Maria Torres of Leviton Dual Language School

Each spring, Providence Public Schools selects a Teacher of the Year (TOY) for the district. We reach out to staff, families, and the community to submit nominations for teachers who exemplify the best of the profession. 

Teacher of the Year

Providence Public Schools' Teacher of the Year works to possess the following characteristics:

  • Be knowledgeable in their content area. 
  • Be a master at instructional delivery.
  • Be able to and demonstrate the ability to inspire students from all backgrounds with multiple learning abilities.
  • Be respected by their students, parents, peers and colleagues.
  • Be active in the community.
  • Be articulate in state and national educational issues.
  • Be a model representative of their teaching colleagues in the Providence Public Schools.
  • Have at least five years of teaching experience.

2025 Teacher of the Year

Nominations are received and reviewed by a selection committee, human resources, and the Superintendent. Final nominees are selected and then asked to provide the TOY committee with their resume and professional credentials, five years of assessment scores for tested grades or internal benchmarks for non-tested grades, letters of recommendation, and their answers to a series of open-ended essay questions, giving the selection committee a feel for the individual style and philosophy of each candidate. The winner chosen for Providence represents the district in the statewide selection of Teacher of the Year, with the winner at that level representing Rhode Island in the national competition.

Questions about the nomination process can be directed to the Communications Office at communications@ppsd.org.

 

Providence Public Schools Teacher of the Year Honorees

2025 - Maria Torres, Leviton Dual Language School

2024 - Rachel Greenberg, M.Ed., Robert L Bailey IV Elementary

2023 - Francesca Leclerc, Classical High School

2022 - Lindsay Paiva, Webster Avenue Elementary School

2021 - Zachary Pinto, Mount Pleasant High School

2020 - Ekaete Okon, Lauro Elementary School

2019 - Elizabeth Amadio, Gilbert Stuart Middle School

2018 - Rachel DeNofio, Asa Messer School Elementary School

2017 - Julie Motta, Gilbert Stuart Middle School

2016 - Maureen Pinksaw, Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School

2015 - Diane Ciccarone, Carl Lauro Elementary School

2014 - Claudia Jackvony, Pleasant View Elementary School

2013 - Wayne Kilcline, Lillian Feinstein at Sackett Street Elementary

2012 - Lisa Rose Bucci, Hope High School