Amy Almada
Position: Fifth Grade Teacher
School: Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School
School District: East Providence School District
City, State: East Providence , RI
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Amy Almada was nominated by an anonymous friend.
Mrs. Almada is a LifeChanger this year and every year. She goes above and beyond to make her students feel welcomed and included, both in her classroom and while distance learning. Last year, after living through an incredible loss to her family, Mrs. Almada was back in school, ready to see her students. They are like her second family, and they offered her comfort during such a hard time.
Each year, students are excited to be part of her class and see what creative lessons she will come up with. Mrs. Almada makes a deep connection with each of her students and their families. It all begins with her welcoming phone calls in August before the school year starts. These phone calls get students and their families excited to be part of her class. She continues to communicate with families throughout the school year, and she attends all nighttime community-building school activities.
Mrs. Almada can often be found posting YouTube tutorials to help other teachers improve on their distance learning. She scopes out yard sales for furniture she can refurbish and bring into her classroom for flexible seating, and she creates hands-on materials for her students to have in school and at home. Overall, she's a creative genius who keeps learning fun and engaging for her fifth graders.
Any is a true leader and life changer. She makes sure to give her students 110% everyday. The connections she creates with her her students are lifelong connections where students come back to the school just to chat and learn more from her. She is an amazing educator with lessons that are engaging and students are able to connect it to their lives. She is a true life changer. Her dedication to her students and families are everlasting.
Mrs. Almada is an overachiever, who has touched so many lives. Not only is she an inspiration to her students (past and present) and their families, but to her colleagues as well. She often posts material on social media that sparks connections, conversations, questions, and answers. In addition to that, she has posted several tutorials on YouTube that are very informative and useful in the area of technology and with distance learning. Her dedication and passion is admirable and contagious. She is one of a kind and we are so lucky to have her in East Providence. I can’t think of a more deserving teacher for this award. Amy, you are a gem, truly one of a kind.
Incredible human. Incredible educator. Incredible role model for us all. True LifeChanger!
Mrs. Almada is an absolutely amazing educator who is dedicated to supporting her students and their families for long after they leave her classroom! She is truly a LifeChanger!
Many parents get nervous when they get a phone call from the teacher. That is because they haven’t had Mrs. Almada yet. She calls every family before school starts just to say hello and introduce herself. She continues to call throughout the year to share positives. Families get very close with Mrs. Almada and learn how to best support their children. It was so nice to feel like part of a team supporting our kid. We will forever be thankful to Mrs. Almada for making our child’s fifth-grade experience an amazing one!
Amy set up a wonderful connection between her husband’s employer who does a great thanksgiving basket drive every year. Each year, Amy’s school is able to connect them with families who may need a little help around Thanksgiving time. One of my family members was a recipient of one of those baskets and it made all the difference for them. They had recently lost their job and were trying to make ends meet. It was amazing for them to be able to forget about their troubles and have a good meal. A couple of my kids have had Amy as a teacher and it’s clear that she is amazing in the classroom. The part that is even more incredible is what she does out of the classroom.
I have known Amy since she was three years old and was fortunate to have been her Kindergarten teacher at Francis J Varieur School. She is and always has been talented and artistic
and as a teacher provides the children creative and engaging lessons.
Amy also worked in the summer program at Varieur and during that period of time, she was a cooperative, dependable and highly knowledgeable club leader.
Amy is notably a capable and gifted teacher with the ability to make prudent and well reasoned decisions in the classroom.
My support for Amy is without reservation. She is a wonderful role model, a hardworking teacher and a most qualified individual. She was also a delight to teach in Kindergarten!
Unforgettable! You had such a positive impact on Jaidin's life. You truly deserve the award
We need more teachers like you! Thank you for your dedication & bless your beautiful big heart!
I have had the pleasure of working in the same building as Amy. She goes above and beyond implementing structure, support, and love into her room. She spends countless hours engaging with students and families, and going above and beyond the elementary school day. She is an inspiration to teachers everywhere!
Amy was born to be an educator. She started teaching my son when he was 18 months old. I am amazed at the creativity she brings to her classroom everyday.
If it innovative seating it is hands on materials she provides for her classroom.
She starts in August with welcoming phone calls to the parents and the students.
Amy is the kind off teacher that every parent dreams of having for their child.
When you couple exceptional creativity with passion, there are amazing possibilities for educators. Amy’s creativity and passion are endless. She is constantly reflecting on her instruction to deliver it in ways that engage students and make learning relevant for them. Amy is an exemplar model for her colleagues and school community.
Amy and I taught the same grade, next door to each other, many years ago. I remember Amy being incredibly creative as a young teacher, always doing fun and engaging projects with her class that linked to what they were learning. It is clear she still using this amazing creativity to instill a love of school and learning in her students. This past March when all teachers suddenly had to switch to distance learning, Amy was one of the first people I called in a panic. She spent time teaching me new ways to teach and connect to my students virtually- even though she had he own virtual classes to plan for. Amy is someone who will always answer the phone or text to help another person with their needs, even when she has a lot going on in her own life and work. I highly recommend Amy Almada to receive your wonderful award.
I had the pleasure of being placed with Amy during my time with Teach for America. I was on the fence as to whether or not I wanted to go into education. That is, until I saw the magic in Amy’s classroom. It was so clear that Amy cares about each and every one of her students, regardless of their background or challenges that they may be facing. I watched as students trusted to share with Amy about some of their hardships during their Advisory block. They shared because they knew that the space was safe and that Amy cared. Amy kept extra food in her classroom for one student who she knew needed it. He knew where it was kept and knew he could get it if he needed it. Whether it was providing some extra food, spare clothing, or just a listening ear, she was always there for her students. I vividly remember one student telling me about how cool it was that Amy had an extra pair of ballet flats laying around in the student’s size. The student shared that she had mentioned that the bottom of her shoe had a hole in it the week before and that Amy gave her this extra pair of shoes. What the student appreciated most was that Amy gifted these in a way that no one else ever knew about it. Needless to say, I realized how big of an effect educators can have on our youth in ways aside from academics. I decided that I needed to be a part of this and I have been ever since!
Every now and then you meet a teacher who is so much more than just a teacher. Mrs Almada is one of those. She’s a cheerleader, counselor and a coach. She’s supportive, always positive and brings a huge and tangible level of excitement to her class and everything else that she does. We were new to the district and only knew her for a short time but she left a lasting impression on me and my son. She’s truly deserving of this LifeChanger award.
Mrs Almada, es un ser humano muy especial Dios le dio el don de enseñar a los niños. Es una maestra esepcional. Ella fue maestra de dos de mis hijos ella me ayudo mucho con mi hija para haser la evaluación de ADHD. con una gran sonrisa recibe y trata a los niños como si fueran de ella misma, es una maestra muy detallista mantiene su salón muy ordenado e impecable.
I'm the guardian of one of Mrs Almada's 5 grade student from last year. From the first day of school to the last day i have never seen Michelle so exited about a classroom she talked about the layout of the classroom where she and her friends could sit in an inviroment that was like no other teacher had offered in all of her 6 years of school. 'she told me all about sitting like she was at the beach when she was all finished with her work or if she needed a break they could use that side of the classroom but not abuse it. I visited the classroom myself and could see why my niece who has ADD and is on meds would see it like that my niece has had some losses in her life and did not have the best start with parents tends to get attacked easy so i'm wary of who she gets attached to But Mrs Almada even thou went throu so much pain and loss still managed to come back and give her children all her attention and love.
During the Covid-19 lock down she continued to teach with good humor everyday she would turn herself into seomthing else making the kids want to be on time to guess what is Mrs Almada going to be today? while at the same time still being able to teach and keep the kids interested during a pretty bad time where most families were stuck at home and having defficulties.
Excellent. Exceptional. Extraordinary.
She isn’t just a teacher. She isn’t just a colleague. She isn’t anything short of amazing. She is a LifeChanger.
.:.And that’s clear from her creative and out of the box posts on social media.
Mrs. Almada has not only provided my kids (yes, has had two of them) for a great education, but she has provided my family with incredible support during these crazy times. From sending out fun video challenges, to hosting great family raffles, and creating cool neighborhood scavenger hunts, she helped my family continue to do fun activities together. It has been hard to get my kids outside and away from screens, but she helped provide us with activities and ideas for activities where we could do so. The amount of money that she spends of her own money, well, I can’t even imagine. We are so thankful for her passion, compassion, and generosity.
Mrs. Almada believed in me when I didn’t. I didn’t have many friends going into fifth grade. Mrs. Amanda got to know me and helped me make friends and learn how to talk to other kids. I have made a lot of friends since then. She also taught me a lot in her class, but I really learned how to be a good friend to others.
Amy was my cooperating teacher while I began my student teaching! I couldn’t have asked for a better person who inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and really get creative!!
Amy has always gone above and beyond for her students and it showed. She would always be the first one to get to school (sometimes even before the custodians) to ensure she was well prepared for her epic daily lessons that always kept her students fully engaged.
Thank you, Amy for all that you have taught me, and continue to do so through your online tutorials!
Best wishes!!
Amy's enthusiasm for her incredible contribution to the health and well-being of young people is awe-inspiring. Although neither student nor parent, i always enjoy her amazing, up-beat, and forward-thinking activities posts; and i really appreciate how often and thoroughly she posts online what's happening in her classroom for the benefit of each student and students' families --- especially in these isolating days. Thanks, Amy, for being so super-dedicated AND super-cool!!
Amy Almada’s passion is not only admirable but is a constant reminder of the importance of relationships. Her energy is bottomless and is a reminder of the commitment it takes to be an educator. And her motivation and commitment to supporting other educators is a reminder that collaboration is key. Amy does all of this work only to affect the lives of students...not just her studentsbut all students. In my 22 years in education I have seen many incredibly talented professionals and Amy is number one on that list! May she enjoy the kudos that are rarely given and she is truly a gift.
“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.” Mrs. Almada spends every waking hour figuring out how to better each of her students lives and it shows.
Amy Almada is an incredible educator and person. I feel so fortunate to be able to say that my child had the opportunity to be in Amy’s classroom. Even years after leaving fifth-grade, my child sends Mrs. Almada email updates. When great things happen, Mrs. Almada is the one to the first people she wants to notify!
Mrs. Almada was my son’s 5th grade teacher and let me express why this award nomination goes to great ones like her. As a single parent during this pandemic and working a full time job from home, I knew that distance learning was definitely going to be a challenge. However thanks to her it felt like a breeze with her spreadsheets and tutorials. She was creative, prepared, informative, supportive, companionate, understanding and patient ( I can go on and on about her). You are an amazing life changer Mrs. Almada, especially for making it your mission to encourage all of your students to do their best and you truly believe in them. Thank you for being a part of our lives!
Amy is an inspiration to so many in our community. I first me Amy as a parent. She inspired my daughter and motivated her in so many ways during her 5th grade year. I was so impressed with all the work she did for each and every one of her students and their families. She welcomed students with letters before they met, individualized the parent-teacher meetings to highlight each child's achievements, and made my daughter feel like she was apart of something truly special, each and every day. This is evident in the fact that my daughter keeps in touch with Amy. She always looks forward to participating in opportunities to volunteer in Amy's class, even as a sophomore.
As an educator in the district, I have come to know that my daughter is not the only one to feel this way about their 5th grade teacher. When I ask my incoming high school students to share a story about a time a teacher inspired them, I am never surprised to hear a new story about Mrs. Almada. Our community is lucky to have her to help shape the minds and hearts of our children.
Amy, I am beyond thankful for you! As parents, we do our best to influence our children, but I have seen the light a special teacher can spark in a child, and you have been that special teacher for Sophia. ??
Mrs. Almada was my first teacher in America. I used to live in Portugal. I knew some English. I did not know much. Coming to school was scary. I did not have to understand every word to know that she liked me and wanted me in her room. She did everything to help me: translator apps, picture dictionary. She spent so much time with me. I ate lunch in her room with her like 3 times a week. We would talk. She even set up a duolingo account for me. She would go ok and try to learn Portuguese when I worked on English. She even set up FaceTimes with my family in Portugal for me. I learned so much because I wanted to be able to talk to her more. I am in high school now and I get good grades. She helped me so much.
Amy is one of those educators who gets a glimmer in her eyes when she talks about her classroom. She is one of those educators who doesn’t say that she is going to “work,” but rather, “school.” She doesn’t see it as work. She doesn’t call them “students” either. They’re her “kids.” It is this level of passion that breeds a Lifechanger.
Unbelievable educator! Undeniable passion for teaching! It doesn’t matter if it is her students or colleagues, she goes above and beyond to help them to grow!
I am so thankful that Mrs. A shared that she was nominated for this award with the online community. I do not know Mrs. A personally, but she has been changing the lives of educators around the world through her YouTube videos. I can only imagine what a wonderful teacher she must be to her students!
Amy, you’re a genius! Thank you SO much for your PDF tutorial!!! Life changing!!!
Amy, this was a fantastic presentation. This will be so helpful for all of my teacher colleagues here in Dublin,Ireland.
Amy, this is incredible! I’m a South African Grade 5 teacher and we are currently on our Easter holidays, but the country is in full lockdown (we’re not even allowed to leave our homes to go for a jog or walk the dog!) and it is unlikely that we will go back to school as planned. So we are now also being launched into the sphere of online teaching, as many teachers around the world have already been doing. I’m busy planning and I had envisaged myself retyping all my hardcopy worksheets to make them digital ?? This is life saving information. I particularly like the idea of making the worksheet the background in Slides so that kids can’t fiddle with it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm an oldhead teacher, trying to learn newhead stuff and it's sooo hard! Your instruction was a perfect amount of info, perfect pace and down to earth so that I could follow easily.
I'm a 63 yr. old educational assistant. I was raised on chalk and an eraser in class. I was happy with Windows XP and a flip phone. Nowadays teaching High School CTE classes is a challenge. I mean how to you teach a kid to use an electric welder with notes?
Your tutorial has been a great help as I've scanned scores of pdfs years ago, now I can use them as assignments and tests now that I can edit and fill the pdf.
AMY! Thank you so much, you did a great job of explaining each step and I was able to follow along with your YouTube tutorial. You are so right, it does provide some comfort to be able to use trusted resources that our students are used to and comfortable with! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Mrs. A’s YouTube videos have been a game changer for me with distance teaching. She is a life saver and a LifeChanger!
I worked with Amy as a custodian at her school. She is incredible. I have never met a teacher who is waiting in the parking lot for the building to open. She gets to the building before me and leaves after me. She puts her whole heart into her job. She is the best.
Amy Almada is a phenomenal teacher! My son absolutely adored her. She was his 5th grade ELA teacher. She is one of the most supportive teachers my son has ever had and as a parents she was a breath of fresh air to communicate with throughout the school year. During my sons last year of elementary school we applied to get him into a very prestigious private school for the start of his middle school career and Mrs. Almada supported my son throughout the entire process, challenging him and encouraging him to continue to always do his best. Mrs. Almada even took time out of her own personal schedule to write him an incredible letter of recommendation and sent it over to his new school. Honestly anything she can do to support any of her students she is always front row center. During the pandemic, I'm sure it was a stressful time for most, if not all parents having to unexpectedly home school our children. Mrs. Almada went out of her way to mail out adorable little seed packets and activities to the student to keep them busy and give them something fun to do during such a chaotic time. I believe teaching is a career most people go into because they love to teach and they want to make a difference in peoples lives and Amy Almada is definitely someone who does exactly that. Loves to teach and make a difference in all of her students lives. I wish my son had more teachers like her!
My son was in a highly specialized special education classroom. Mrs. Almada welcomed my son into her regular education classroom. To this day, he says that Mrs. Almada was the best teacher he has ever had. She understood him and helped his peers to see him for his strengths and great qualities. He never identified any other students as his friends. He made 2 wonderful friends because of Mrs. Almada. I don’t think she realizes that because of her, he can actually have a birthday party with friends there! She changed our lives for sure!
I worked with Amy years ago during a summer program (Child Opportunity Zone) in Pawtucket, RI. It was so clear how much Amy loves working with and providing opportunities for children. This was at the beginning of her career and it was clear that she was destined to do big things!
Amy has run East Providence’s Camp Invention (science camp) program for grades 1-6 for 4 summers and my children absolutely love it! They look forward to the science fun and seeing Mrs. Almada’s smiling face each summer!
Amy is an unbelievable teacher and colleague! Just as she instills a growth mindset in her students, she does that for her colleagues too! I have learned so much from Amy!
The relentless pursuit of what her students need to discover their talents and grow into a class community defines Amy Almada. Every student in Amy's class is empowered to be the best version of themselves because of Amy's dedicated approach to planning and implementing her lessons. I can recall a time I stopped by her classroom as students were creating a design for an 'egg drop' project. I was invited to the front of the room where there was a diagram of two hands pushing an egg at the opposite ends. I held the egg with two hands, intertwined my fingers, and pushed it from opposite ends (just like the diagram illustrated). Next students explained to me how their egg drop projects would appreciate where the egg was strongest as they engineered their designs. This example is the approach Amy takes to everything she does a teacher. The end result is each student being able to demonstrate and explain what they've learned or developed with confidence. And Amy's impact consistently reaches outside her classroom. Last Spring, during distance learning, my wife, who is a 2nd grade teacher was watching a video about how to convert hard copy worksheets into online material. I said, "that's Amy Almada!" Amy will continue to impact and change the lives of students, teachers, families, and communities because of her dedication and love of learning. Way to go, Amy!
Amy Almada is a true life changer for all of her students. She is kind, caring, creative and so inspiring. She is always looking for new ideas to engage students. She cares deeply about the whole child and it is evident in her classroom. Amy is a true collaborator and is always willing to help a colleague with what ever they need. Amy is an amazing educator who s deeply deserving of this award!
Mrs. Almada was my sixth grade science teacher. Her name was Ms. Resnick back then. That was before she got married. She went above and beyond to provide us with incredible experiences. She fundraised to bring my whole grade to the Boston Museum of Science. Many of my classmates, including myself, had never even been to Boston. Driving under the tunnel was exciting for many of us. When we got to the museum, it opened many of our eyes to potential careers in science. Mrs. Almada also brought us on a trip to the local news channel studio. We got a tour, learned how the green screen works, and even got to sit in on a live filming of the news. I decided that I want to go into broadcasting because of this trip. The amazing experiences were not limited to field trips. Our classroom was always exciting! When learning about Non-Newtonian fluids (they appear to be both a solid and a liquid), reading Bartholomew and the Oobleck wasn’t enough for Mrs. Almada. Nope. She brought a kiddie pool into our classroom and mixed up a huge batch of Oobleck (cornstarch and water). We got to stand and dance on it! We experienced that if you move quickly, you stay on the top like it is a solid, but if you just stand there, you sink like you’re in a liquid. I can’t imagine how much money or time Mrs. Almada spent on giving us this awesome memorable experiences, but I can tell you that I will never forget them.
I love reading these testimonials to Amy’s talent and skill as a teacher, she has touched so many lives during the course of her teaching career. She hasn’t missed a beat in the new normal of our current situation and I’m sure this has made a huge difference to her class this year. She has the passion, energy, and creative intelligence to make a real difference in her students' lives. I wish every student had the good fortune to have Amy as their classroom teacher, I would not be surprised to learn in the future that many of them have elected to become teachers themselves, based on her inspiring example. Bravo Amy, who is most deserving of this award!
Im always looking for creative, innovative activities to add to my reading curriculum. A few years ago, I saw on social media where Mrs. A had created breakout rooms to serve as a review for her students state testing. I teach 5th graders as well, but in Ohio. I private messaged her and she took time out of her busy schedule to share and explain what she did as well as all of her resources that she created. My students loved it! I appreciate her willingness to help other educators become better!
Mrs Amy is the best, her creativity is more than supernatural.. The care and support they're just awesome
My son had the pleasure of having Mrs. Almada (Ms. Resnick back then) in a summer class for struggling readers. My son is dyslexic and never enjoyed reading or writing. That is, until he stepped into Mrs. Almada’s classroom! She found ways for him to share his comprehension that were untraditional and this built his confidence in himself. She also used a lot of great tech tools to assist him in getting his thoughts out of his mind and into his writing. He is in high school now and to this day, he still records himself talking about what he wants to write before he attempts writing. I always knew my son was capable, but he wasn’t convinced. I will be forever thankful to Mrs. Almada for showing him just how capable he is!
I am avid Twitter follower of Mrs. A’s! Her creativity and passion for education beam through her tweets! I am an administrator now, but years ago, I too, was an educator. Mrs. A’s tweets make me miss my classroom days! I regularly share her ideas with my staff. I’m not quite sure if Mrs. A. realized how much she is helping other educators across the country (and probably the world)!
Mrs. Almada went above and beyond for my family. My daughter absolutely loved every moment of being in Mrs. Almada’s fifth grade classroom. The summer after fifth grade, my family suffered a tremendous loss. We lost my husband, my daughter’s father unexpectedly. Mrs. Almada checked in with my family on a regular basis over that summer, delivering meals to my home and visiting my daughter. To this day, I still think that had it not been for Mrs. Almada’s above and beyond kindness, I don’t know how we would’ve made it through that summer. Mrs. Almada is so much more than a teacher. Our family is so thankful for her!
Caitlin here from the ClassDojo team and when I heard Amy was nominated for this award, I knew I had to pop by to show my support! We have a community of over 50k teachers and there are just a small selection that I KNOW by face. Amy is one of those teachers. Why? Because she cares about her fellow educators, she shares helpful, inspiring content with the community. We're all about lifting each other up, and I can say with confidence that this is also Amy's goal when she shares in the community. If you asked our community, I guarantee there would be hundreds more teachers stepping up to vote +1 to Amy as the Lifechanger of the year. Cheers!
Mrs. Almada, or Amy, as I call my wife is truly a LifeChanger. Amy has always had a clear passion for education. Wherever we may be, Amy finds moments to help others to realize their own learning potential. When I met Amy, she was a senior in college and student teaching in a fifth-grade classroom in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. While most other college students were looking for ways to avoid their coursework and increase their social lives, Amy was busy lesson planning and coming up with ways to put smiles on her fifth-graders' faces. Amy did not see any of it as work. It was clear to me then that Amy was destined to be one of those teachers that students remember for a lifetime.
Thirteen years later, Amy has touched so many lives. After teaching in fifth grade in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and sixth-grade science in Central Falls, Rhode Island, Amy settled into her position as a fifth-grade teacher in my hometown of East Providence, Rhode Island. It has been amazing to hear the buzz about this absolutely amazing teacher in my hometown and then find out that they are talking about my wife! She goes above and beyond for all of her students (current and former) and their families. With each new school year, Amy welcomes another class into our family. I am always amazed by the greetings that she gets when we are out grocery shopping or out to eat. The way that her students' eyes light up when they see her is absolutely something special.
Continue to connect with and empower your students as well as other educators! Great job.
There are not enough superlative adjectives to describe Amy Almada. Skillful, empathetic, gifted, awe-inspiring, and passionate just to name a few. Her ability to make a curriculum come alive for her students is amazing. She spends huge amounts of time individualizing for each student and creating hands-on, engaging activities. She works with us in the summer teaching a class of struggling readers who typically don't want to read. Not in Amy's class! She makes all the reading material accessible by designing curriculum that requires participation and is scaffolded to meet the need of each reader. Every summer Amy Almada's enthusiasm and energy result in her class becoming a group of readers. Amy Almada clearly changes lives!
Mrs.Almada is a Hero. Her dedication and out of the box thinking is always on 100%. She truely goes above and beyond for her students and staff. We are so proud to be your whiteknact family and proud to have staff like you.
While I couldn't say it any better than what is illustrated above, I'll try to add what I can. Amy Almada has worked in my summer program for students with learning differences for the past 4 years. It has been my privilege to have her as part of our team, and to witness firsthand how she engages each and every student, regardless of their learning profile. She is incredibly thoughtful and creative, and brings such a positive, supportive energy to every single interaction and lesson. I have often said I wish I could clone her and have Mrs. Almadas in each and every classroom! She manages to change up the lessons to cover the same concepts each and every year, incorporating the latest technology, combining it with tried and true practices, and tapping into the students' interests and the themes of the literature and curriculum. Even the COVID crisis couldn't keep her down! She pivoted immediately, tweeted out ideas for other teachers and built an online version of her summer class in no time, engaging the author of the book we used, and creating a game-show quiz of him by the students, who did "deep-dive" research and posed as characters from the book! Every child who has the chance to be taught by Mrs. Almada is fortunate, indeed, and every colleague and administrator who gets to work alongside her, see her in action, and benefit from her ideas, is also truly lucky and the better for it.
I am the Superintendent of Schools in East Providence. I have had the pleasure of working with this outstanding educator for the past five years. She is one of the most caring and creative teachers in the district.She is a true educational leader who truly loves children and is a positive role model in their lives. A well deserved nomination.
Outstanding! Amazing! Supportive! Selfless! These are just some of the words I would use to describe my colleague, Amy Almada. As a Special Education Resource teacher who has been working with Amy for 4 years now, I am truly blessed to have a colleague who is passionate and dedicated to providing high quality education to all students. Amy automatically sets the bar high for her students and accommodates students with disabilities to ensure they receive personalized learning, accommodations/modifications and support. It is so great to see my students smiling, learning and growing in her class along with their typical peers. Anyone who gets to work with or is taught by Mrs. Almada is truly lucky!
Amy is so deserving of this award! Whenever I run into someone who had or worked with Mrs. Almada the first thing they say is “she’s the best!”
Amy goes above and beyond to make sure her students have the best education and experience in her class. She makes them feel welcome and successful. She is very deserving of this award.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Almada for the past 6 years. She is a teacher that always goes above and beyond for her students. Mrs. Almada makes sure every lesson is engaging in every aspect, to meet each student's individual learning styles and needs.
Amy is not only an inspirational teacher to her students, but also to fellow colleagues. Through her creativity and tech savvy approaches fellow colleagues at our elementary school, district and even world wide look to her for tips and advice.
There is no one else I know that is more deserving than Mrs. Amy Almada for this Lifechanger of the Year Award.
Lifechanger is certainly how I would describe Amy Almada. She is an amazing educator and the most positive upbeat person. Her lessons are engaging, meet the needs of her students, and provide deep learning experiences for her students. As the assistant superintendent I have had opportunities to formally and informally observe Amy teaching. During one observation I was not sure why Amy was dressed all in white with a red cross on her shirt. As she introduced the lesson on crisis response I watched her transform into Clara Barton through dress and through the story she told about Clara Barton's life.The students were totally into the transformation and so was I. As students worked in small groups to plan how to respond to different types of crisis I heard students refer back to the information about Clara Barton to support their crisis plan. During another observation Amy invited me, the superintendent, and the mayor to her students' version of Shark Tank. I saw students who confidently spoke about their product, provided thoughtful responses to questions, and who visibly supported each other even though everyone wanted to win. From these observations I saw a culturally and academically diverse class where every member was interested in learning and willing to assist their classmates so everyone was successful. This is the type of culture for learning and caring that Amy builds each year with her students. I have also seen Amy take on a leadership role for the district. For the past four summers Amy ran the district's summer Camp Invention Program. She is responsible for over 100 students from grades 1-6, six teachers, and several junior and alumni counselors. Camp always runs smoothly under Amy's watch. That said, if you are looking for a Lifechanger, look to Amy Almada. She tirelessly worked to change the life of her students through education.
Amy is an inspiration to us all. Learning in Amy's class is an experience that her students will not soon forget. She is passionate about her work, loves her students and goes above and beyond to ensure each of them know how special they are. She creates learning experiences that honor the specific needs of all of her students. Beyond the classroom, she is always professional and willing to lend a helping hand to colleagues. I am honored to know Amy and call her a colleague!
As a Registered Nurse, I must applaud Mrs. Almada.I loved talking with her every day in the school hallway .A typical day walking her class through the hallway included making a special stop to welcome a blind student in a wheelchair that I had the pleasure escorting to Emma Whiteknacht Elemantary School everyday. Mrs. Almada's beautiful spirit and kind words always brought a smile to this young man's face! More importantly, she teaches her students to be kind to each other ? In her eyes ,no child is left behind. It is with great respect and honor to nominate such a wonderful woman .She truly is a role model in our school district and community.Thank you Mrs.Almada for making my day a great day at Emma Whiteknacht School!
I remember Amy as a substitute teacher at the elementary school where I worked. It was easy to tell that she had “it”. Educators will know what I mean. She is an innovative, eager and conscientious teacher. This can be determined by simply walking into her classroom where you see the results from endless hours of planning and organizing. Personally, I have benefited from her invaluable You Tube videos that serve to simplify Distance Learning tools for myself and my students. I cannot think of anyone more worthy!
There are some great educators out there, however Mrs Amy Almada goes above and beyond others expectations. My son Joseph Tavares was lucky enough to have Mrs. Almada for his fifth grade teacher for the 2019/2020 school year. Although most children in this school year were robbed of a traditional school year, Mrs. Almada made it seem as extraordinary as possible. First of all my son had the pleasure of her teaching in person for 7 months. In this time, Mrs. Almada differentiated for all her students, and made their learing environment the most special it could be. Mrs. Almada had special areas set up for each individual learning style, and accommodations to stimulate and support group work. My son enjoyed each and every day he went to school, and what more can a parent ask for. Not only that, but Mrs. Almada supported students where they needed to be supported. Students that were struggling received what they needed as did children who needed support because they were above expectations. I am speaking as a parent who has two children in the East Providence School System but also as a parent who is a teacher and professional in the field herself. There is no better a person and teacher than Mrs. Amy Almada. She deserves so much recognition for the amazing, creative, and outstanding work that she does for her students ever day, because she believes in this work, and that she can make a change in her students lives. If that isn’t the strengths and greatness of an amazing teacher, I don’t know what is.
I know you’ve heard a lot about Amy Almada the teacher..but I would like to tell you about Amy the learner..
Amy is a born leader and an extraordinary teacher. How do I know that? Because I knew Amy when she was eight years old and a student in my elementary classroom in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Even at that young age Amy was a magnet, a life force for the love of learning. She displayed intelligence, imagination and an abundance of energy and enthusiasm for people and the world around her. Teachers loved her, friends trusted her, and best of all her vibrant personality ignited heart and soul in a classroom.
When I think of Amy I remember insight and determination! She was fearless in her learning! At our river classroom she was the first one putting on the high boots and wading out in the water to catch fish and eels to bring back to our brackish water aquarium. She would become the biologist, the physicist, or the teacher encouraging everyone!
At our yearly ocean fair she had no problem performing experiments or explaining biodiversity and El Nino to third, fourth and even fifth graders. Often leaving them amazed at the knowledge of this second grader and her team!
One of the special things I remember about Amy was a great sense of humor. She could always laugh and make others laugh along with her.
So now I am not surprised at the extraordinary teacher that Amy has become. It’s no surprise that parents want their students in Amy’s classroom. Because I know the year that those students spend with Amy will be a year they never forget. A year of positive influences, a year that will spark their imagination,
a life changing year....
This morning Amy appeared on the Today Show for World Teachers Day. She was chosen as one of 6 outstanding teachers in the country!
When she got her well deserved minute of fame did she talk about her many, many, accomplishments..
No.. she gave all the credit to her second grade teacher...That’s who Amy Almada is....
I had the pleasure to meet Mrs. Almada when my (now a senior) son was in 6th grade. He had such love and respect for her. He would tell me of all the wonderful things she would during class and how he enjoyed her class. He will never forget when his whole class went to talk about the weather on one of our local channels. And how she just made his class happy. Mrs. Almada is a very dedicated teacher that loves her kids. He always remembers her .
Thank you for being such an amazing teacher Mrs Almada
Amy Almada sets the highest standards for pedagogic excellence, with inspiring commitment, dedication and professionalism. Her activities have included directing a district sponsored science camp (Camp Invention), and coaching a school baseball team. She ensures that every student, colleague and parent knows that they are valued members of her learning community. Amy works tirelessly, always searching for innovative ways to improve her teaching methods and her classroom environment. Additionally, she delights in challenging each student and in sharing her knowledge and techniques with her colleagues. Her students are inspired to become lifelong learners and productive, responsible citizens. Therefore, I totally support the nomination of Amy Almada!
Before I met my cousin Amy, I was set on what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a physical therapist. Once I met Amy, she inspired me to become a teacher. Every morning before I would go to school I would check facebook to view her riddle of the day. Her classroom is so interactive, and so organized. Amy is an amazing person and provides so much for her students. She is really an inspiration. She inspired me to become a teacher. I am currently a freshman in college pursuing an Early Childhood Education major because of her inspiration. Once I’m done with school, I wish to be at least half the teacher she is today.
I feel very fortunate to have worked in the same school as Amy for my first three years in education. Amy has been a huge supporter of mine with anything I needed since my first year teaching, which has always resulted in the betterment of our students. It is clear to see that everything Amy does is in the best interest of the kids, because teaching is much more than a job to her. She goes above and beyond each and every day, and is very deserving of this award.
My son is currently participating in distance learning in Mrs Almada's class. She has shown such out if the box thinking and innovative creativity to keep the students engaged in a challenging setting. Her positive communication and encouragement of every student inspires greatness. She has a unique way of making every child shine their brightest..Thank you for being such a caring roll model for our children!!!!
In searching for the best words to describe Amy Almada, all of the typical adjectives come to mind: dedicated, creative, passionate, sensitive, organized, kind, fair, knowledgeable, resourceful...And the list could go on and on and still not say it all! However, the title of this award describes her to a T, Life Changer.
Amy is the teacher students always remember, long after leaving her classroom. She possesses the innate ability to create a community each and every year, an extended community that includes families and colleagues. Within this community, built upon respect, care, and trust, her students not only achieve, they flourish. Always ready to collaborate, Amy developed numerous YouTube technology tutorials during the pandemic, that were viewed by close to one million people worldwide. Additionally, she is always willing to provide professional development for her district.
Even though she has been recognized over the course of her 10 year career with the local Golden Apple Award and more recently featured on The Today Show for World Teachers Day, the real proof of Amy’s professional excellence is found in all of the lives that she has touched and changed!
Amy is so positive, warm and caring with all of her students! She takes the time to go above and beyond by providing our kiddos a 5 star education. Congrats Amy!
Amy is a once in a lifetime teacher. Our family is so lucky because both of my children had the pleasure of learning in her classroom. Her unique approach to teaching really keeps the kids interested and helps them remember what they learn from her. Amy’s genuine concern for each child extends beyond the four walls of her room. She helped my son with an internship and volunteer opportunities years after he graduated from her 5th grade class. My children know that Mrs Almada is just an email away and will always be there for them. We are blessed and grateful for the impact Mrs Almada has had on our entire community. East Providence is very lucky to have her!
I have had the honor of Mrs. Almada teach my oldest son in 5th grade and is now teaching my youngest son in 5th grade. She is balancing teaching in person students and distance learning students. She truly cares about the kids and makes learning fun. My son is currently doing distance learnjng which can be challenging, but Mrs. Almada had made it such a great experience and teaching them live on the computer so she is always right there to help them with any issues. She is very encouraging to the students and helps boost their confidence. We need more Amy Almadas in the world. She is truly a great teacher.
Amy has all the enthusiasm, dedication, care and love you would want a teacher to have for her students. She continually finds fun, creative and thoughtful ways to get her students involved, engaged and learning. I’ve shared her Google tips and tricks with many other teacher friends, including my husband, and she truly goes above and beyond. She is the teacher you wish your child gets to have - she is THAT teacher. The one you don’t forget- who’s fun, compassionate and meant to be a teacher. There’s no one more deserving of this recognition.
Amy is an incredibly dedicated teacher who is passionate about her career. I work at a company that makes toys and videos to get kids interested in STEM and we were able to donate products to Amy’s classroom one year. Amy clearly cares so much about her students because she reached out asking me about the program. She always goes above and beyond for her class and it shows. I love seeing her students writing her letters years after telling her how much she impacted their lives and education positively. Amy deserves this more than anyone!!!
Amy is an awesome teacher inside and outside the classroom. She always had such patience with my girls during summer vacations when we visited Rhode Island. They are young adults now and still talk about the fun they had with her making chalk and other arts and crafts projects.
Her posts on Facebook showing exciting, innovative projects she does with her class are mind blowing. Amy is intelligent, caring, kind and compassionate. She is the type of teacher every parent wants for their child in every grade!! Keep up the good work Amy and congratulations on your recognition as a “Life Changer.”
Amy is a special teacher and a wonderful person. I had a friend of mine whose son was having a tough time in school. I asked Any if she could speak with my friend and she did. My friend was so thankful that Amy actually took time out of her day to help her deal with an issue he was having at his school. That is the type of person she is she cares about kids. That is a tue teacher. To her it is more than a just a job it is her passion to help any child in need.
Amy has inspired me since the day I met her! We first worked together when I was an undergraduate student studying education with an interest in special education and working with kiddos who learn differently. Seeing the ways she engages EVERY student in her class is beyond incredible. She supports each and every one of her students both inside and outside the classroom. There is no one more deserving than Amy!!
Amy Almada has always given 110% in all her endeavors in the 20 years I have known her. However, if you want to know what beyond 110% looks like, follow her teaching career. As a former teacher myself, I have never seen a more creative and personal approach to teaching. Any knows how to engage her students. She knows how important it is to get to know her students, their backgrounds, interests, and learning styles. She creates an environment in her classroom that clearly engages her students, makes them feel safe, and ready to be challenged. Her flexible- seating classroom was like none other, patio furniture, kitchen table furniture, bean bag chairs, I’ve never seen a classroom like it. Her students had to have felt so special that their teacher would go to such lengths to make them excited to go to school. Her riddles and pictograms of the day engaged her students and her network on a large scale, her students were challenging adults and solving puzzles educated adults couldn’t figure out! She takes every day occurrences and finds opportunities to make them educational (teaching geography but tracking Mrs. Almada’s Amazon packages). Any also takes the time to build up other educators. She utilizes YouTube and other pathways to share what she is learning and what she has found successful. She goes the extra step to build up her fellow teachers. Amy has also been very positive throughout the COVID crisis. She has taken the challenge as an opportunity to grow.
Mrs. Almada was the first inclusion teacher who treated my son, who has autism, as an equal in her classroom. Not a guest...not a "special friend" who visits...but a 5th grade student.
I cannot think of a more deserving teacher?
I am lucky enough to watch all the hard work Amy puts in every year with each class. She always goes the extra mile with every single student. She makes sure that every lesson engages her students. You can see she genuinely enjoys what she does! I hope one day my child is lucky enough to have a teach like Mrs. Almada. I actually hope one day she has Mrs. Almada as a teacher!
Amy is a dynamite teacher who cares deeply for her students and keeps them active and learning in their schoolwork. If there is a child that feels left out, Amy will be there for them to guide them through the process of what they’re feeling and what they need to fit in. With her dedication into distant learning and assisting her peers with questions, she has gone the extra mile to place tutorials on their website and answer any questions that other teachers need. Amy can always be counted on!!! I am so excited for her to be a nominee.
As a parent of a child with special needs, starting a new school year brings a ton of anxiety for the whole family. All our fears and worries were quickly squashed once we met Mrs. Almada. She made getting to know my son a priority and would tweak her lesson plans to keep him engaged. She creates a fully inclusive classroom by incorporating sensory regulating items for all her students to use. Mrs. Almada is one of those life changing teachers that makes kids love school. She's the teacher kids never forget!
Amy Almada is truly a wonderful and dedicated teacher that goes above and beyond. I am blessed to have had both my daughters have her for a fifth grade teacher. Mrs. Almada is always adapting her ways of teaching to the needs of her students. She is always using multiple different methods to help all her students who learn in different ways. She is always looking for and implementing different ways to make learning fun for kids. Once teachers had to quickly change to distance learning, Mrs. Almada really went way beyond anything I could have expected of a teacher. She made distance learning fun for her kids while helping them to still receive the best possible education. She took what was a new and stressful situation for kids and made it so much easier on them. She is always finding ways to help her kids even when she couldn’t be with them. Her teaching has had a positive impact on both my children that they carried through into sixth grade and beyond. My youngest struggles with school and Mrs. Almada helped her find her way with school. She taught her to keep trying and never give up. She helped her to find confidence in herself and that no matter how many mistakes she makes that if she keeps trying she will get there in her own time. She has always been very helpful to me as a parent anytime I reached out for advice on how to help my children succeed in school. Any student that has Mrs. Almada as a teacher is truly lucky. My family will always appreciate and be grateful for all she has done for us. Mrs. Almada is truly a life changer.
I have known Amy for the entirety of my teaching career and have never met another teacher more deserving of this award! The effort and energy she puts into her job far surpasses the expectations of a quality teacher. Her commitment to innovative strategies demonstrates her level of investment in teaching and the learning of her students. She is just incredible!
Mrs Almada and I attended graduate school together at URI. At that time I was a VERY young mom to a 3 year old. Amy and I worked closely on numerous projects, had a lot of late nights and got to know each other pretty well. During this time, my daughter Medinat fell in love with Mrs Almada not only because she’s and amazing person in general but because with every interaction she was helping her grow in some of the most creative and fun ways I’ve ever witnessed in my life. Although she was my friend, she actually, very early on helping me learn that education goes beyond the classroom and that a significant portion of it also takes place in the home. She taught my daughter the simplest things such as how to determine what you tip a waitress at a restaurant at the age of 3 which grew her love for mathematics at such a young age. Now, my daughter at age 15 is an honors algebra2 student and honestly it’s because of Mrs Almada. She, over the years has influenced her, contributed to her growth and development in ways I cannot put in words. She’s a living example of an individual who never stops teaching and learning. I’m thankful not only for what she has done for my oldest but also how she’s contributing to the growth of my twins. My wish had always been for her to teach my children and all these years later I’m realizing she’s been doing that for years and years. She’s is the most deserving teacher, woman and friend of this award. Literally everyday I notice on her social media all these activities, creative projects and lessons that make me wish I had her as a teacher in my youth. If as an adult I can feel this way I know first hand her students cannot get enough of her and absolutely love her.
In the short time that I worked with her, Amy immediately impressed me with how well she taught, how much she cared, and how often she went above and beyond for her students! I often see the projects she works on to make her classroom welcoming and to make her students feel special and think “Wow! That’s such a great idea, but I’d have never thought of it myself!”. I’m so blessed to know Amy, and I know that I’m certainly a better teacher for it (mostly because I have learned a lot from her!). She’s truly a LifeChanger teacher, as she truly makes life so much better for everyone around her.
For the five years that I have worked in education, it has been in the same school as Amy Almada. I have been lucky enough to have spent time working in her classroom with some of our differently abled students and admire how she adapts to include them in her lessons. Mrs. Almada makes learning fun and I see the engagement she brings to her students. In the past I have judged her students in their Shark Tank presentations which are designed to bring students together to work, share and create new inventions. This year Mrs Almada is teaching geography by having her students follow packages across the country from their warehouse point to delivery. Amy is a creative, innovative and caring teacher and definitely a life changer for the students that pass through her door!
I am not at all surprised Amy has been nominated for this award. Amy is so kind and giving of herself, and that is most obvious in the classroom. She works tirelessly to make her students all feel special. Whether it’s using her own time and money for her latest way to engage her own kids, or sharing her innovations with other teachers so that their kids can also engage, Amy is always giving of herself in the name of serving others. I am not surprised she is nominated, but I am proud she is being recognized for all of the hard work she does to serve others. She doesn’t do any of this for the thanks, she does it because the root of everything she does is how much she cares. Thank you Amy, for investing in the kiddos. They will be talking about the teacher that changed the way they believed in themselves for the rest of their lives.
Amy is the teacher that all students want and deserve. She is always thinking out of the box and strives for inclusion all of her students. The city of East Providence is blessed to have such a fun, creative and dedicated educator.
Amy has changed the lives of so many students. As a colleague, I have watched and admired the way Amy inspires her students to want to learn. She is a role model and exemplary teacher. Amy makes getting to know students a priority. I have learned so much about student oriented teaching techniques from Amy. And hope to inspire students the way she does everyday!
Amy Almada is an amazing teacher who really enjoys what she does. During distance learning I was able to see how awesome her teaching style is. She made sure her students didn’t lack any educational instruction while we quickly shifted from in person to distance learning without any notice. Amy always does thoughtful things for her students that help them understand she is not just their teacher but is invested in their well being and their future. She is also an awesome colleague and also shares innovated things she has done/is doing with her students that will benefit other educators. Amy created a few important you tube educator videos that have been viewed by educators nationwide.
As a parent of two girls I feel extremely blessed that both of my girls have had the blessing of being in Mrs. Almada’s class. Last year my oldest daughter was in her class, and everyday she would come home with such excitement to share what she did during the day with Mrs. Almada. Her classroom is not only such a creative place to learn, but a place of safeness for the kids, no matter what may be going on in their outside lives the kids are fully able to enjoy their learning experience while in her class. Last year was a rough year for the kids and Mrs. Almada, but you would never know because Mrs. Almada puts HER kids above everything and takes care of them like they are all her own.
During the most chaotic of times when covid came and shut her classroom down, she was able to still teach her kids in a creative and fun way. This year my youngest is in her class, and was so anxious about school in this crazy time. Mrs. Almada immediately recognized that and found anyway to comfort her. Now she is just like her sister coming home with excitement to tell me about her day! I am beyond grateful that my daughters have had the pleasure of being in Mrs. Almada’s class!
My experience with Amy as a co-worker was phenomenal. She is selfless, thoughtful and always goes the extra mile for her scholars. One year we coached the school's baseball team together and we couldn't get uniforms....she went bought T-shirts and screen printed a logo for the team. She is definitely worthy of any and all accolades!
Mrs. Almada is a beacon that radiates kindness, compassion, and joy to her students, her colleagues, and everyone in the Whiteknact school community. I admire her year-round dedication to her students and how she goes well above and beyond to make her classroom a place where children feel supported, encouraged, and loved. She makes learning creative and fun while making each of her students know that they are important and they matter very much and that they are capable of accomplishing great things in the world. I also admire how she fosters growth and development among her colleagues. She is continuously learning new things, evolving her teaching, and sharing with her colleagues so that the entire school community benefits. Mrs. Almada most certainly is a Lifechanger teacher and our community is lucky to have her.
Mrs Amy Almada's zest for life and learning are noticeable immediately. The way she interacts with the children on different levels from all walks of life is inspiring. It has been an absolute dream to know two of my children have someone so passionate advocating for their futures. Bravo Amy we are all Team Armada!
Mrs. Almada is very dedicated to her students. She deeply loves and cares for her students Amazon is helping her with a fun geography project where the students can track packages. They sent the students a package which my son thought was great.
She is one of five teachers from around the country who will on The Today show on Monday to celebrate World Teacher Day. She loves what she does and it shows. She deserves this award.
Amy is such an amazing soul. She is goes above and beyond for her students. Every time I see the creative ideas she post for her students, I am blown away. I wish all teachers were as caring, passionate and creative as Amy. She is definitely a life changer for any student who goes through her class.
Amy's best asset is that her best attributes (kind, compassionate, determined) are consistent across settings. Whenever and wherever you meet rher, you will be greeted with a warm smile and positive words. This is the type of person that makes an impact on children- those who walk the walk, and Amy does.
Amy is a very caring, genuine person. She puts her students first and creates an atmosphere that makes learning fun!!! Every child who has been in Amy’s class is blessed!!! Amy is truly a blessing to the teaching profession!!!
Mrs. Almada is an extremely dedicated and enthusiastic teacher! She created a fantastic video to help other teachers and allowed me to share it on my website. You can check it out here: https://peasinapodlessons.com/google-classroom/ She is a life changer for students & teachers alike!
As a middle-grade author, I've been following the "Amazing Amy" Almada for quite some time. Her tireless dedication to her classroom students, summer reading "friends" and her profession is beyond inspirational, especially in these incredibly difficult times. "Creative genius" is a perfect description for Amy as she constantly learns about and implements new modalities of learning for her classroom, both physical and virtual. As a staunch advocate and partner for The Mad Dash (just ONE of the many "ideas" she has brought to her students!), Amy has championed our unique, economical, and engaging way to bring an amazing story to a teacher's classroom in these "COVID" times. As is the case with The Mad Dash and all of her extraordinary efforts, Amy's motive is to share with her peers with the objective of enriching the learning experience of students. Amy Almada truly is a LifeChanger teacher.
