Providence educator receives national award, $25K cash prize

EMILY CALDARELLI,  fourth-grade teacher at Paul Cuffee Lower School in Providence, won the $25,000 Milken Education Award. She was presented the award during a surprise ceremony on Tuesday at the school. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
EMILY CALDARELLI, fourth-grade teacher at Paul Cuffee Lower School in Providence, won the $25,000 Milken Education Award. She was presented the award during a surprise ceremony on Tuesday at the school. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PROVIDENCE – In a surprise assembly at Paul Cuffee Lower School Tuesday, Emily Caldarelli, a fourth grade teacher there, was awarded the Milken Educator Award, according to a release from the Milken Family Foundation.

Caldarelli was honored by Education Commissioner Ken Wagner, Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley and R.I. Board of Education Chair Barbara S. Cottam for her project-based approach to learning as well as her leadership in supporting professional development opportunities for her colleagues.

Focusing on the verbalization of each activity, Caldarelli allows students time to process learning objectives on their own and to pursue independent learning opportunities. She outlines her lesson plans according to Common Core state standards and facilitates self-analysis on behalf of the student through group-authored feedback.

She is the fourth-grade team leader, serves on the School Improvement Team as well as the Climate and Culture Committee and Response to Intervention team.

- Advertisement -

Foley commented that Caldarelli’s collaboration among colleagues and ability to empower students earned her the “reputation of master facilitator.”

Wagner added, “Caldarelli represents what’s best about the thousands of teachers in Rhode Island public schools. She has led professional development at Paul Cuffee School on social and emotional learning, she has brought a science curriculum to the school that links Cuffee with educators at the University of Rhode Island and she keeps in touch with Cuffee parents throughout the year through letters, postcards, phone calls and email.”

The Milken award, which comes with a $25,000 prize, is given to teachers who are in their early to mid-career and possess an engaging and inspiring teaching method. Teachers are chosen through a confidential selection process and reviewed by blue ribbon panels appointed by each state’s department of education.

Caldarelli is the only Rhode Island educator to be honored by the Milken Family Foundation during the 2016-2017 season.

This season marks the 30th anniversary of the Milken Education award by the foundation. In total, more than $138 million in funding, which includes $68 million in $25,000 awards, has been invested in the program.

No posts to display