Portsmouth educator named RI Teacher of the Year

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WJAR) — In a surprise, socially-distant ceremony, the Rhode Island Department of Education named Portsmouth educator Ashley Adamson the 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Adamson is a third grade teacher at Hathaway Elementary School in Portsmouth. She has spent more than half of her nearly decade-long career teaching at the school.

"Social emotional wellness is a foundational component in Ashley's classroom and she strives daily to make her students feel safe and have their voices heard," Deputy Education Commissioner and former Portsmouth superintendent Ana Riley said.

The state-approved ceremony, typically filled with pomp and circumstance, traded large crowds with a handful of colleagues and family.

"I'm happy I put real clothes on today," Adamson said. "I'm shocked, honored and so excited to represent the state of Rhode Island.”

A parade of colleagues, parents and students beeped their horns and held signs in support of Adamson.

"Education over the last few months has been flipped upside down and uncertainty is in its future. One thing I am certain about, though, is your ability to lead teachers," said Adamson's predecessor, 2020 Teacher of the Year Liz Russillo.

As Teacher of the Year, Adamson will work with RIDE to support education statewide. She will also have the opportunity for professional learning at Google in California and is eligible to represent Rhode Island as the National Teacher of the Year.