High school math teacher Lisa Garcia of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, was selected as her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: WPRI.com

Hearty congratulations are due to Lisa Garcia, a secondary school mathematics teacher from North Kingstown, Rhode Island. She has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

In a career that has spanned 30 years, Lisa has taught 27 of them at North Kingstown High School. The courses she has instructed include Algebra, Honors Algebra, Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus, Trigonometry, and Computer Science.

Lisa strives to create a classroom environment that promotes curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration. When she designs her instruction, she places emphasis on a rigorous curriculum and on developing the skills needed to become lifelong learners. Her lessons connect her students with the global community and inspire them to think beyond the four walls of the classroom. And she actively supports the social and emotional growth of her kids.

In addition to teaching math, Lisa organizes fundraisers and decorates the school for events such as Spirit Week. She served as Lead Teacher on the school’s international Mason Tours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spearheaded the Flocked Fundraiser, a pandemic-safe way of celebrating the school’s graduating seniors by placing flamingos on their lawns to help raise morale. And as if all that were not enough, Lisa also mentors beginning teachers.

Lisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Mathematics and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Rhode Island College.

The Teacher of the Year Award Program was founded in 1952 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to bring recognition to the importance of teachers as nurturers of the American Dream. His goal to honor all teachers by the selection of a representative teacher from each state would result in the yearly selection of a National Teacher of the Year. This is accomplished through a selection process that involves classroom teachers, school administrators, state officials, students, parents, and business representatives.

To read more about Lisa Garcia, see this article about her published by the Rhode Island Department of Education.