KINGSTON, R.I. – April 11, 2024 – University of Rhode Island alumna Angela Boisclair has been named the recipient of the National Education Association Rhode Island 2025 Teaching Excellence Award.

A North Kingstown educator, Boisclair will receive expense-paid travel to Washington, D.C., to meet other recipients from across the country to be recognized at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in February 2025. NEARI is a union and professional organization serving 12,000 members.

Boisclair, who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 and her Master of Arts degree, both in education at URI, is a 36-year public school educator who believes in continuing to learn and develop skills in her professional practice for the benefit of her students and for the support of her colleagues.

She has deep roots in North Kingstown, graduating from North Kingstown High School, where she is a reading specialist.

“Student engagement is essential to successful skills development,” Boisclair said. “I learned early in my career that high interest material and subject matter with an overarching essential question is most effective in making a difference for adolescent learners.”

Boisclair said one of her more successful units of study over the years has been teaching the Holocaust through historical fiction, primary sources, testimony, and visits from survivors. For her distinction in teaching interdisciplinary units on the Holocaust, she received an award from the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. Teaching this material is what led to her dedication to teach more about diversity, equity, inclusion and humanity.

“My commitment to DEI has only grown stronger over time resulting in my involvement in the district’s DEI subcommittee and Towards an Antiracist North Kingstown (TANK). We’ve made some concrete positive changes in policy like establishing late buses every day for middle and high school students so the opportunity to participate in after-school clubs and sports or engage in academic support is possible for more students. We also established a scholarship through TANK for students of color graduating from North Kingstown High,” said Boisclair.

“None of this is possible without student voice – and really listening to students’ perspective about what they need. It is critical to this work,” she added.

During her tenure at Davisville Middle School, Boisclair organized and facilitated “Community Awareness Nights,” themed showcases of student work for Grade 6 (civil rights), Grade 7 (Japanese internment), and Grade 8 (Holocaust). The evening event included veterans, Holocaust survivors and community members as guest speakers, and activities such as drumming and origami, as well as student presentations and projects.

Boisclair has dedicated countless hours as an advisor to student groups like the Student Leadership Team, the Racial Equity Alliance, and a SafeBAE chapter to protect against sexual assault. This is her third year volunteering for the We Are ALL Readers festival of literacy and diverse books by diverse authors.

Boisclair is an active member of her union at the local, state, and national level, serving more than 30 years on the NEA North Kingstown executive board in multiple positions, currently as secondary grievance chair. She is a member of the NEA Rhode Island executive committee.

Boisclair is a frequent attendee and leader of the NEARI Professional Development Program. She credits her professional development involvement with not only making her a better teacher, but a better colleague–collaborating on shared interests and professional goals, maintaining an open mind and welcoming new ideas to incorporate into her practice.

“Students benefit from teachers who return from professional development rejuvenated by fresh ideas,” Boisclair said.

Boisclair has also been a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly, representing the 3 million members of the NEA, since 2019.

“Angela’s work both in the classroom and with her union continuously promotes literacy and diversity. It is during the school day, at night, and on weekends because it is who she is: a true champion for all students,” said Sue Warburton of her colleague and fellow union member.