In a world where dedicated educators are becoming harder to develop and retain, and students are (by some accounts) becoming more difficult to educate, local parents can take solace in the knowledge that teachers like Amy Moran call East Providence their home.

The seventh-grade social studies teacher at Martin Middle School was recently included among a cohort of just five teachers from across the entirety of the United States to receive the ‘Crystal Apple Award’, which strives to “celebrate teachers who embody exceptional inspiration, leadership and passion in teaching.”

Over 500 nominees are considered each year, with 16 finalists chosen of them, and five winners announced. Moran is the only recipient in the entirety of the New York, Greater Boston metro area, with the next closest winner residing in Indiana, and the next closest finalist located in New Jersey.

The award comes with a $500 stipend for Moran to purchase whatever school supplies she desires, and an additional $250 to the school for purchasing other supplies they may need.

Making better human beings
On Wednesday, May 7, school principal Laurie Marchand escorted personnel from The Post and School Specialty — a school supplies manufacturer and provider who started the Crystal Apple Award 11 years ago — to Moran’s classroom, where she was conducting a training session with some of her fellow teachers.

While she knew she had received the award, she had no idea the happy ambush of attention was coming her way at that specific moment. The result — after Jim Curtis, the New England Strategic Account Manager for School Specialty handed her the sleek crystal trophy — was a heartwarming release of appreciation and emotion.

“I do what I do because I was raised this way,” she said through self-proclaimed happy tears. “I had two incredible parents that raised me to be who I am and to want to make a difference. And I know that they're proud of me.”

She said that the award was only possible because of the team of educators who work together cohesively at Martin, not only as professionals but as friends.

“I do what I do because I have the support,” she said. “We don't have the easiest group of kids this year but I'm going to tell you, I come to school every day because I get to see the people I work with, and we do this together. Everybody deserves rewards. It's really nice to get this, but this isn't just me. And I know it's cliche, but really it isn't. I work with amazing amazing people who are like family, friends, and co-workers.”

Moran, who has been teaching for around 27 years total (20 of which have been at the middle school level), said that she has never wanted to be anything else besides a teacher.

“I was that little kid that used to like line up my stuffed animals on my bed and teach them,” she said. “And then I taught swim lessons and, I don't know. There was never another path for me.”

And although she originally thought her path was leading towards a career in elementary school education, her plans were altered when she got transferred to the middle school level early in her career.

“I thought that was the end of my life,” she said. “Now, I can’t imagine being in any place but middle school.”

Moran said that taking time to figure out how to meet students where they are in life and treating them as individuals, with their own challenges and circumstances outside of school, is an important part of her approach to teaching.

“I always think that this is the group that they're still trying to figure things out and you can still try to make good human beings,” she said. “In middle school I often like feel like if they do struggle, sometimes it's not all in their control. It might be in their surroundings or things that they've had to encounter that kind of make them who they are. So you just hope that when you come to school every day and you show them the love and the consistency that maybe you can attempt to make a difference.”

She pointed to a series of drawings on display at the back of the classroom, and told an anecdote of their origin story. They were drawn by a student who wouldn’t talk in class. When Moran learned they loved to draw, she asked the student to email her a drawing. When she encouraged them, they wound up creating a new variation of the original drawing for each month.

“I’m a mama too, and I know what I would like my kids to be treated like,” Moran said.

A leader among her community
Principal Marchand said that Moran set the standard for teachers, at Martin or anywhere else.

“She's the heartbeat of our staff. She really is,” she said. “If something is happening, Amy's involved in whatever way. It's just who she is.”

It was mentioned in her nomination that Moran had organized food and clothing drives for local East Providence assistance agencies, and Marchand reiterated that having someone be such an active and positive part of the community was invaluable within a local school system.

“Yes, we’re teaching them math and English and science and social, but we are teaching them to be well-versed community members of East Providence,” Marchand said. “And Amy is the living proof of that. She lives in East Providence. Her children go to the school system. She really is immersed in the entire community.”

Moran said that educators never go into the profession to make money, or earn awards for prize money to buy pencils, but for the hope of making a difference.

“Together we all try to make better human beings. We didn't get into this gig for the money…We did this because we care about the kids in the future,” she said. “I'm going to have grandchildren someday, I hope. And we need good teachers, no matter what.”