Shabre A. Providence has been selected as the territory’s 2014 State Teacher of the Year.
“The Department of Education offers Ms. Providence our warmest congratulations,” Education Commissioner Designee Donna Frett-Gregory said over the weekend. “We commend her on her outstanding teaching achievements, and we are honored that she will be representing the territory at the national conference and other upcoming events.”
Providence was announced last week at the St. Croix District’s Teacher of the Year winner, while Diana Tyson from Lockhart Elementary School picked up the St. Thomas-St. John District title. Both were considered for the state award by an evaluation committee made up of Education Department officials and representatives from agencies ranging from the V.I. Board of Education to the University of the Virgin Islands.
The selection committee – which ultimately makes a recommendation on the winner to the Education Commissioner – uses standard criteria during the evaluation process, including a classroom observation component.
A fourth grade teacher at Ricardo Richards Elementary, Providence has been with the department for eight years but also taught for four on the mainland. Getting into elementary education allowed her to explore all the subject areas and pushed her to look at new and creative ways of teaching everything from art to science, she said.
"My philosophy is based on creating engaging and modern environments for our students to learn in," Providence said. "We use lots of technology in our lessons — the students use the Promethean boards every day — and keep the room interactive. I think this is the best way to prepare them for success in the global community, whose standards and expectations are always changing."
Providence said her class of 23 students is diverse, and she makes a point of working with each child.
"Every one learns at their own pace and has different interests, so I make a point of working with each of them during the day," she said. "It is very important to keep them excited about the work, and as a teacher, you have to understand what each of them responds to."
Providence will now go on to represent VIDOE and the territory at the National State Teacher of the Year Competition, which is run by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
State Teachers of the Year participate in a number of activities, beginning early next year with the National State Teacher of the Year Conference.
“I don’t think everything [has] quite sunk in yet,” Providence said of the selection. “But I am honored — I feel blessed and so ecstatic to have been chosen.”