{"id":108784,"date":"2026-05-11T13:11:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=108784"},"modified":"2026-05-11T13:11:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:11:47","slug":"college-of-educations-medallion-ceremony-welcomes-rhode-island-teacher-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/college-of-educations-medallion-ceremony-welcomes-rhode-island-teacher-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"College of Education\u2019s medallion ceremony welcomes Rhode Island Teacher of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 May 11, 2026 \u2013 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Sarah Dully teaches English, not automotive, but her keynote address at the University of Rhode Island\u2019s third annual Medallion Induction Ceremony had a distinctively motor-minded spin to it. Dully made her trusty 20-year-old car a theme for the night in her remarks to URI\u2019s newest education graduates, who are embarking on their own journeys beyond the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An English and special education teacher at Narragansett High School, Dully was the keynote speaker for the April 27 event held at Edwards Hall celebrating this year\u2019s 215 elementary and secondary teacher candidates and education majors. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Clinical educators from schools from across the state have supported URI teacher candidates in practicums and student teaching experiences throughout the year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

URI President Marc Parlange also recognized the newest class of URI educators from URI\u2019s Feinstein College of Education<\/a>. \u201cYou\u2019ve chosen a profession that has never been more important,\u201d Parlange said. \u201cTeaching is a powerful tool and the foundation for democracy. For many of you, it\u2019s not just a profession, it\u2019s a passion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dully shared a love for literature, Noah Kahan, even clothing choice one casual Friday at Narragansett HS with Sarah Christie \u201926, of New Jersey, during their year working together. (Photo provided S. Dully)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A passion for teaching is certainly something Dully has, leading to her recognition by the Rhode Island Department of Education as Rhode Island\u2019s 2026 Teacher of the Year. Known affectionately as “Dully” at Narragansett High, she helps students build skills and confidence to express themselves in any setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dully also served this year as a clinical educator for graduating URI senior Sarah Christie, from New Jersey. Christie calls getting to work with Rhode Island\u2019s Teacher of the Year for her senior year placement an incredible experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSarah Dully\u2019s generosity and encouragement for me to succeed provided me with amazing opportunities that have a deep-rooted influence on the educator I hope to become,\u201d Christie said. \u201cEvery day at Narragansett High School was truly fun. I woke up every day excited for what was to come, from playing a game to introduce students to The Crucible<\/em> to being a part of a True Crime Studies research project convention. I will forever be grateful to URI for the kismet opportunity to work with Sarah. Her guidance and support have created a lifelong bond that will transcend my residency experience and extend well into my future career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dully visited URI this year to speak to Diane Kern\u2019s Seminar in Teaching course. (S. Dully)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In her remarks, Dully said URI\u2019s mantra \u2014 \u201cThink Big. We Do.\u201d \u2014 is a good message for the new graduates to keep in mind when they leave Kingston. \u201cIt\u2019s important to look back to see what you\u2019ve started at URI and keep a new wider view beyond your classroom walls,\u201d she said. \u201cAlways be prepared to adjust your mirrors, and your view, along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollow through,\u201d she added. \u201cStudents notice and will match your investment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also reminded the audience to \u201cstay under the hood\u201d in their professional lives with frequent checks to update professional development or maintain personal balance, or just to be a student again. Dully ended by reminding students to be themselves and bring their own unique personalities to their teaching: \u201cAuthenticity is not a performance. Be present, share your life and show up as yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New programs, new graduates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evening saw the University graduate its first class of graduates in three new programs: Environmental Education<\/a>, Early Childhood Education<\/a>, and Project SUSTAIN<\/a>, a URI master\u2019s degree and certification in special education and dyslexia knowledge and practice funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are excited to see all of our students enter into the awesome responsibility of teaching,\u201d said Danielle Dennis, dean of the college. \u201cThey\u2019ll always have a home in URI\u2019s College of Education, even as they leave the safety of our University community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evening also acknowledged this year\u2019s clinical educators from across the state who have opened their classrooms to URI students this year. Many attended the evening to see their students officially launch their teaching careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou opened your doors,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cWe thank you for your mentorship of our newest teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dennis presented the graduating students with their well-earned medallions, each bearing the state\u2019s anchor seal and displaying Rhode Island\u2019s motto of HOPE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The College of Education will hold its commencement ceremony<\/a> on May 17 at 1 p.m. in the Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 May 11, 2026 \u2013 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Sarah Dully teaches English, not automotive, but her keynote address at the University of Rhode Island\u2019s third annual Medallion Induction Ceremony had a distinctively motor-minded spin to it. Dully made her trusty 20-year-old car a theme for the night in her remarks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":108785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1907,30,1906,1915],"class_list":["post-108784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-academic-excellence","tag-college-of-education","tag-experiential-learning","tag-undergraduate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108784"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108796,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108784\/revisions\/108796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}