Beacon's Waters a Finalist for Rhode Island Teacher of the Year

Jessica Waters, a science teacher at , is one of three finalists for Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Award, an annual educator recognition program implemented by the state Department of Education.

Waters is the small charter arts school's first nominee for the program, chosen after a request by Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.

"Beacon Charter High School for the Arts has spent the first nine years of its existence building a world-class faculty to deliver superior arts and academic instruction to students from all over Rhode Island.  Since opening in 2003, the school has never taken the opportunity to nominate a Teacher of the Year," explained Principal Michael Skelton.

Waters has taught at Beacon since 2008 and was chosen by faculty vote. She was recognized for her passion and enthusiasm in the classroom as well as for her contributions to the professional development of her peers and community-based initiatives she took part in outside the classroom.

After two months and a two-tiered review system by RIDE, Waters has made the short list of finalists which also includes one teacher from Coventry, and one from Warwick.

"While her fellow nominees from Warwick and Coventry are outstanding in their own rights, it should be noted that Jessica was the chosen nominee from a small school with an intense mission focus on the arts," said Skelton.

She is one of only two science teachers at Beacon, and according to Skelton, "her contributions to the school’s academic success cannot be overstated."

In one year, Beacon doubled the percentage of students who scored proficient or better on the NECAP Science assessment.  With this effort, Beacon beat the state average on NECAP Science for the first time.  As a result, Beacon outpaced the state on every NECAP assessment this past academic year.

Waters continues to push her students as she awaits the results at the statewide level.  The Rhode Island Teacher of the Year is expected to be announced in November or December.