PCS students cheer (left) as 4th grade teacher, Ms. Emily Caldarelli (right) receives the coveted Milken Educator Award for excellence in teaching from Dr. Jane Ford, representing the Milken Family Foundation and Dr. Ken Wagner, Commissioner of Education for Rhode Island.
Pom poms shook and shouts of applause resounded through the gym at the Lower School yesterday as in a surprise award ceremony, 4th grade teacher, Ms. Emily Caldarelli received the prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2016. The award, now 30 years old and one of its kind, recognizes teachers for excellence in teaching. And that’s teaching more than math, science and civics. As Dr. Ken Wagner, RI Commissioner of Education said, “you teach to the mind as well as to the heart of an educational community” as he spoke of not just Ms. Caldarelli’s gifts to her students, but of all Paul Cuffee School’s emphasis on social emotional learning.
Ms. Caldarelli has been teaching 4th grade at Paul Cuffee School for 9 years. She is one of only 35 Milken Award winners nationwide this year. The award came with a $25,000 unrestricted award for her to use as she wishes.
Congratulations, Ms. Caldarelli