2019 -- S 1002

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ELIZABETH RUSSILLO ON BEING NAMED THE 2020 RHODE

ISLAND "TEACHER OF THE YEAR"

     Introduced By: Senators Archambault, Lombardo, Ruggerio, Metts, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Elizabeth Russillo, an exceptionally dedicated and innovative educator,

received the prestigious honor of being named the 2020 Rhode Island "Teacher of the Year." This

recognition is a momentous tribute to an exceptional individual who has had a significant and

profound impact on the lives of her students through her extraordinary commitment to education;

and

     WHEREAS, One might say that Mrs. Russillo was destined to be a teacher. Her father,

who had taught for more than 40 years, instilled her with a deep appreciation for the profession,

and following in his footsteps, she joined the faculty in the science department at Smithfield High

School as a chemistry teacher in 2002; and

     WHEREAS, For the past seventeen years, Mrs. Russillo has creatively led her students

through the wonder and intricacies of science. She currently chairs the high school’s science

department and in 2018, in recognition of her outstanding dedication, she was named Smithfield

Teacher of the Year; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Russillo's genuine love of teaching has not only helped hundreds of

children to succeed, but has been an inspiration to colleagues and a tremendous asset to the

school community, where she has served as an adviser to the student council, is an instructional

coach with the Highlander Institute and a tennis coach, and regularly writes about the teaching

profession; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Russillo makes her home in the Town of Johnston with her husband,

Steve, who is also a teacher, and their children, Gabriella and Brooklyn; and

     WHEREAS, As the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Russillo will enter the

competition for National Teacher of the Year in Washington, D.C., and will serve as an

ambassador to teachers across Rhode Island, and participate in "space camp" next summer; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes and congratulates Elizabeth Russillo on the prestigious honor of being named

the 2020 Rhode Island "Teacher of the Year." We extend our best wishes for her continued

success, good health and happiness; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Elizabeth Russillo.

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