2001 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year
Ms. Tancrelle is a grade five teacher at Old Country Road School in Smithfield, Rhode Island. She teaches her grade five students all elementary subjects. Ms. Tancrelle has been teaching for ten years

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I believe that all children can learn regardless of ability. They may not all learn in the same way. It is our responsibility, as educators, to determine how each child learns and tailor instruction accordingly. What works for one child may not work for another. I expect that each of my students will succeed, and I try to provide them with the support and tools necessary to bring this success to fruition."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I'm a positive person who tries to motivate my students by establishing a rapport and presenting information in as many ways as possible in order to tap into a variety of learning modalities and strengths. Frequently, this includes the use of technology."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"One accomplishment that I am proud of is being named Rhode Island Teacher of the Year. A colleague started the whole process by nominating me, and I am immensely flattered that she thought highly of what I do with my students."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"There are several issues equally as critical and important, but the one that we can address easily is family involvement in school practices. Children do much better in school when they perceive their parents and teachers are working together. One thing that we, as educators, can do to resolve this is to be more amenable to scheduling events and meetings at a time convenient to working parents. We can offer family events and programs that provide a way for parents and children to interact in the school setting. We also need to let parents know what their children do well."

Inspirational thought:
"Strive to be a life-long learner. Think of teaching as a craft that must continuously be honed and refined. The more tools and strategies we have at our fingertips, the more prepared we are to help all kinds of students."