Nicole Vanasse received several nominations from her colleagues. The following profile contains information from each nomination.
Ms. Vanasse is the definition of a LifeChanger! She continuously plans differentiated instruction daily in order to ensure that all children learn and grow. She takes the time to get to know her students and their learning styles to provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all. Ms. Vanasse pays close attention to assessment data and reflects systematically in order to improve student learning. One only has to walk into her classroom to view evidence of the incredible learning that takes place. Her room is filled with student work, educational materials, and blended learning activities, and it’s an exciting place for all students to learn.
In Ms. Vanasse’s class, students are encouraged to be active in their learning through pre-assessment and self-assessment activities. She frames the lesson for students so they know what they will be learning and how they will demonstrate this learning. During lessons she guides students and scaffolds material as needed. Assessment for learning occurs during all stages of the workshop model.
Outside of her classroom, Ms. Vanasse is constantly coming up with ideas for bringing her colleagues together. Want to build staff morale? Just look for Ms. Vanasse. Want to spice up a work week? Ask Ms. Vanasse. She comes up with little ways to make people smile in the Hathaway community. She helps to put the happy in the #HappyHathaway hashtag.
Ms. Vanasse is a team player, and she always shares her wealth of knowledge, ideas, materials and resources. She never makes anyone feel bad for asking a question more than once, and she’ll try to think of a new way to present it if the person is not understanding her presentation. She’s also known among students and staff as the “queen of technology” and is always ready with a tech tip or trick.
“We have no idea how she finds the time to keep up with all the new technology out there, but she does,” said Elizabeth King, a colleague. “Then, she offers her own time to share her knowledge and teach us what to do with it all...She gets her message across and shows us how to be better teachers for our students.
Last year, Ms. Vanasse stepped out of her first grade teaching position to take on the role of K-3 math instructional coach. The district implemented a new math program at the same time. Ms. Vanasse did an amazing job! Throughout the year, she helped her colleagues turn their content into remote lessons.
“I met Nicole last year, when I started as an employee for Portsmouth Schools in a new role as coach,” said Margie Brennan, a colleague. “As I watched Nicole train herself about the new math program, I also leaned on her for guidance. She is an incredibly organized person who could take on a lot in a very structured way. She was able to help me organize my tasks in a way where I became proficient."
When students and staff were sent home in the spring due to COVID-19, Ms. Vanasse held everyone up and kept her school moving forward. Her tech knowledge was paramount in getting Distance Learning off the ground. She provided daily 1-1 guided instruction to many of her colleagues who were struggling to use the required technologies. She guided her colleagues through various formats, trouble-shooting glitches, sending video tutorials, and numerous phone calls.
This year, Ms. Vanasse has returned to her first grade classroom, but she’s still continuing to help her colleagues. She spent the month of August running “Tech Tuesdays,” a free professional development mini-series to help her fellow teachers set up Google Classrooms.
“Ms. Vanasse is without a doubt a LifeChanger,” said Lisa Little, Howard Hathaway School’s principal. “Whether interacting with students, communicating with parents, sharing with colleagues, leading or attending professional development activities, she excels at her job. Her knowledge of children and how they learn, along with her genuine love of teaching, is extraordinary.”
Nicole goes above and beyond for families, students, and colleagues. Nicole has a wealth of knowledge that has been super helpful to her fellow teachers. She is a whiz at all things technology and has been generous and giving in sharing her time and expertise with others. This became even more important as school switched to distance learning in the spring. Nicole helps others in a respectful and nonjudgmental way which keeps us coming back for more! Thank you Nicole, you certainly are a life changer!
Nicole is an incredible educator, an open and gentle colleague, and a supportive and inspiring leader at our school.
I’m so proud of you!!! You have been teaching pretty much all of your life, starting with teaching your little sister how to read before she started going to school. I remember your favorite thing to play when we were little was school. Even though you never let me be the teacher, you always made it fun and I learned a lot from you. You have always known that teaching was your calling and I’m so happy to see you get recognized for all of the hard work you put in each and every day to ensure that your students and coworkers be the best they can be. There is no one more deserving of this honor than you!!
Nicole you are irreplaceable as a colleague and team member. I'm so grateful that we work together because although we all bring something to the team, you raise the bar for our team in a way that's supportive, non threatening and most of all inspiring! Your technology skill set to our team is something unique and so valuable in the classrooms we find ourselves in during this pandemic. None of us want to let you down because you make us all believe that we can do all the things that you patiently try to teach us. Your interactions with your colleagues are so respectful. Your skills with technology are so far above most others yet you are so humble and you are willing to meet each of us where we are at with our own skill set. As a classroom teacher and even last year when you were our math coach, you go far beyond your role in sharing what you know because technology is your passion and because you have a huge heart and it's in your nature as a teacher to help and give everyone what they need. But your effort to do so goes far beyond! You make yourself available 24/7 and you patiently provided support to panicked texts and video tutorial requests just to name a few. You filled in the gaps that we needed to do our jobs in a different way. You are a life changer to me because you have made me a better teacher through the use of technology, but the emotional support you have provided is immeasurable as well-you have saved me so much time and prevented extreme frustration, stress and tears by sharing all you know in the supportive way you do. You inspire me to be better while building my confidence and being a model of humility! Thank you, thank you!!!!
My son is in Nicole’s first grade class this year. Despite all of the challenges of covid and receiving a class full of kids that finished kindergarten remotely, our experience has been fantastic. Nicole has gone above and beyond to make students feel welcome and safe and to communicate with parents. I am so grateful for daily feedback on my child’s experience, ups, and downs. With Nicole’s guidance, he has learned to use a Chromebook for google classroom and educational activities in case he ever needs to switch to distance learning. My son always comes home with a smile and is excited to get to school every morning to see his teacher. Nicole has set up outdoor science lessons for the class as well as excellent training with technology in the classroom that can easily be transferred to home. We are so grateful to have Nicole Vanasse as our first grade teacher this year!
Nicole, you are such an asset to Hathaway. Your positive attitude and willingness to help in any situation is ever present. Thank you!
It is an honor to work with Nicole. She is a teacher for all teachers-always sharing her ideas and materials. She is dedicated to her students and her school Truly enriching the lives of all that cross her path.
Undoubtedly the best! She is amazing teaching, instructing colleagues and has an astonishing ability to seek out and grab new and creative ideas. She is truly an inspiration.
I can not express my gratitude and admiration for Nicole !!I was blessed to have all three of my sons be in her kindergarten class. Each of my children have their own unique strengths and weaknesses and kindergarten year is so essential to any child’s mental growth and academic growth. Nicole treated all of my children with exactly what they needed to be the best student they could be in that year and provided them a foundation that was secure !!! Years later I was blessed to be working as a teachers assistant in her first grade classroom- I was fortunate enough to see her in action day to day ! I grew even more
Respect for her - she treated me like an essential part of her classroom and routine - which is not always the case for teachers assistants — I felt valued and used to the best of my abilities to help all of the students in our classroom. Nicole has changed the lives of so many - she is a wonderful educator!! Portsmouth is so very lucky to have her !!
I cannot think of a more deserving person for this award! You are the true definition of an educator and I am so fortunate to be your colleague and friend. You have been an educator for 25 years and worn many different hats..... and you’ve excelled in all of them!!! You have, without a doubt, positively impacted the lives Of hundreds of children. You have also positively impacted ALL you colleagues..... from your unofficial role as our school’s IT person, to planning our social events, to sitting with us and talking through difficult situations, both professionally and personally. Thank you for being you!
I met Nicole last year when I served as an Interim Administrator in Portsmouth. I am a retired Superintendent of Schools in RI, and I have met and worked with many outstanding educators in my 45 years in education. I was also there for the shut down of schools in RI due to Covid 19 as the method of delivering instruction changed in an instant. In that situation, Nicole's natural strengths came through as she confidently and willingly "volunteered" herself into a position of leadership for the Portsmouth Schools. The hours she spent to support her colleagues by editing, preparing and posting the play lists that elementary teachers developed for students at home was noted and recognized, although she never took any additional credit for it. I was impressed with her humility, her expertise, her dedication. She is one of those truly exceptional teachers who "make a difference" and I am thankful for having had the opportunity to meet and work with her.
Mom and I wish to congratulate you for this Life Changer nomination. Since you were a child, we have watched and admired your focus to become a teacher. And now, to see you and all of your efforts nominated for this prestigious award could not make us any more proud. Stepping out of your comfort zone last year to take on a very different assignment, just proves that you are the teacher that we always knew you would be. Stepping up this year, working long hard hours, speaks clearly to how much you want the district, the school, your colleagues and especially the children, to succeed. Congratulations!
Nicole, Congratulations ?? ?? I knew the first year when you came to Melville School and we taught Kindergarten together, you were going to be a wonderful asset to the children, their families and your colleagues!!! You’re so deserving of this special award!!!
I started working with Nicole 20 years ago in half day Kindergarten at Melville School. She was so amazing then with her attention to detail and the needs of her students. I learned so much working in her classroom as a Paraprofessiona. She always made me feel part of the team. Congratulations Nicole!! Well deserved!!
A wonderful person and extremely dedicated teacher. Her students are the real winners.
It is an honor and privilege to teach with Nicole. She is organized and extremely knowledgeable! During distance learning last spring, she led teacher planning meetings where we left feeling accomplished, organized and had some laughs along the way. In the classroom, Nicole uses her craft to make learning come alive for children.
Thank you for being a life changer to each and everyone of us at Hathaway .
Nicole is a compassionate and dedicated teacher who is a true team player. I appreciate her teaching and coaching style as she accepts and respects each learner, both adults and children. Nicole is a computer wiz and she shares this passion with everyone she meets. I was a student during Tech Tuesdays this summer and I learned so much from her and laughed with her during our sessions. I am grateful to work with her and appreciate how she has opened my eyes to the world of blended learning.
Nicole is fantastic! I can always count on her for a technology tip or to put together a special event for our community. ??
Nicole is such a valuable asset to the Hathaway School Community.
Nicole always goes above and beyond! She is truly an amazing educator and a colleague you can always count on.
Ms. Vanasse is a phenomenal educator! Hathaway is lucky to have her!