2015 -- H 6303

========

LC002841

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING TRACY L. LAFRENIERE, NORTH SMITHFIELD ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL TEACHER, ON BEING NAMED THE 2016 RHODE ISLAND TEACHER OF THE

YEAR

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: June 10, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

1

     WHEREAS, Tracy L. Lafreniere is a Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach at North

2

Smithfield Elementary School, where she has taught for the past seventeen years. She earned a

3

Bachelor's degree from Rhode Island College and a Master's degree from Lesley University in

4

Cambridge, Massachusetts; and

5

     WHEREAS, Ms. Lafreniere is a dedicated, creative and innovative teacher who is always

6

looking for ways to encourage the youngsters in her care to not only learn how to read and

7

overcome their reading difficulties, but to also develop a life-long passion for reading and

8

learning. She aspires daily to make her classroom a fun and exciting learning environment and

9

believes that her "greatest accomplishment would be teaching a child to read"; and

10

     WHEREAS, Ms. Lafreniere received the prestigious Rhode Island Teacher of the Year

11

Award at a surprise gathering disguised as a ceremony to honor the school for its fundraising. She

12

received her award from Education Commissioner Deborah Gist in the school auditorium to

13

thunderous applause from faculty members, school children and invited guests. Commissioner

14

Gist described Ms. Lafreniere as being "a teacher who by all accounts is completely devoted to

15

her students," and as someone who "brings joy and a spirit of fun to the classroom"; and

16

     WHEREAS, Ms. Lafreniere, in addition to receiving the Rhode Island Teacher of the

17

Year Award, received a bouquet of flowers, and a new Smart Car emblazoned with the words

18

"2016 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year." She also immediately becomes a candidate for the

19

2016 National Teacher of the Year Award; and

 

1

     WHEREAS, In addition to her official teaching duties, Ms. Lafreniere serves on the

2

Executive Board of the Rhode Island Reading Project, serves as a Common Core Ambassador for

3

the Rhode Island Department of Education, is the co-chair of the School Improvement Team at

4

North Smithfield Elementary School, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Literacy Clinic

5

at Providence College; and

6

     WHEREAS, Thanks to Tracy Lafreniere, and teachers like her, every day a young

7

student in Rhode Island has their life impacted in a positive way. Her gentle encouragement,

8

compassion and understanding have made a big difference in the lives of the young children in

9

her care. Perhaps Tracy described her purpose in life best when she said that she "loves walking

10

through the doors of the school each and every day because it feels like home, you feel like my

11

family"; now, therefore be it

12

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

13

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Tracy L. Lafreniere on receiving the 2016 Rhode

14

Island Teacher of the Year Award. We thank her for being a dedicated and passionate teaching

15

professional who has made an enormously positive impact on the lives of many young

16

schoolchildren, and we wish her continued success as a candidate for the National Teacher of the

17

Year Award; and be it further

18

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

19

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Tracy Lafreniere.

========

LC002841

========

 

LC002841 - Page 2 of 2