2023 -- H 6504

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LC003184

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING AIMEE COUTO ON BEING NAMED THE 2024 "RHODE ISLAND

TEACHER OF THE YEAR" BY THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Casimiro,
Dawson, Henries, Chippendale, Kennedy, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Aimee Couto, a first and fourth grade teacher at Emma G. Whiteknact

Elementary School in East Providence for the past twelve years, has been named the 2024

"Rhode Island Teacher of the Year" by the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education. Mrs. Couto is an exceptional teacher who has made a profound impact in

the lives of her students and she is truly deserving of this award; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Couto is a passionate and resourceful teacher who everyday inspires

her students to love learning and instills in them the confidence to believe that through their hard

work and natural abilities, they all have promising futures; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Couto, who struggled with reading as a child, is a strong advocate of

project-based learning and the science of reading. She has successfully turned her classroom into

a laboratory of learning where all her students thrive. She created a structured classroom that

involves a number of educational learning approaches including, direct teaching, lively letters,

SEL lessons, brain breaks, Heggerty phonemic awareness drills, and working in small groups and

individually on specific skills; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Couto works tirelessly to continuously study, maintain and update data

information, to secure the resources needed for her students to succeed at whatever level of

learning they are currently at, and to ensure that she is embedding in her classroom the best

practices in ELA and Math; and

     WHEREAS, Equally important is the fact that Mrs. Couto is a kind and compassionate

person who cares deeply about the learning and wellness of every student in her classroom. She

has been described by the school's principal, Laurie Marchand, as being, "a fierce advocate for

students and their overall success." It was also noted in the nomination process that Mrs. Couto

"takes the time to get to know each student on a deep level to ensure that they feel safe and loved

in the classroom"; and

     WHEREAS, As the Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Couto will have the opportunity to work

with the Rhode Island Department of Education during the 2023-2024 year in support of

education statewide. She will also represent Rhode Island as a National Teacher of the Year; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Couto, in her free time, loves to run and enjoy a Starbucks coffee.

Most important in her life is her family. She is the beloved wife of Adam Couto and devoted

mother to her children, Madison, Jacob and Dylan; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

heartily congratulates Aimee Couto on being named the 2024 "Rhode Island Teacher of the Year"

by the Rhode Island Department of Education; 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. Aimee Couto.

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LC003184

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