Local teacher receives surprise honor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A Providence elementary school teacher received an unexpected honor - and $25,000 to boot  - for going the extra mile to help students receive a better education.

During a surprise ceremony at the Lillian Feinstein Sackett Street Elementary School Wednesday, the Milken Family Foundation awarded reading intervention specialist Yanaiza Gallant with the 2012 Milken Educator Award.

The award is given each year to one teacher from each participating state, and recognizes educators for exceptional work in the classroom. It includes $25,000 for the recipient to use however she chooses.

Gallant was recognized, in part, for helping develop literacy strategies for low-performing kindergartners, for working to get parents involved in their children's education, and for creating a winter science camp to help make learning fun.

During Wednesday's ceremony, Gallant recalled how one of her own teachers inspired her not to give up on her dreams; a message she hopes to spread to her own students.

"I truly believe that there's one moment in life where something happens and your life is changed forever, and I truly attribute that to my teacher, Mr. Robert," Gallant told Eyewitness News.

"Even though there were people around who may have tried to bring me down, he saw something in me and that's what I try to do for our kids, is see something in them, see something positive, bring that out and just believe in them, because some of them don't have anybody that believes in them."

Gallant is a graduate of Rhode Island College, and has worked in the Providence School Department for the last nine years.

• Read the news release from the Rhode Island Department of Education on 2012 Milken Educator Award winner Yanaiza Gallant