Monique Mari Motta, the Virgin Islands 2016 State Teacher of the Year, was honored before family members, and education and government officials Thursday, Jan. 14, at Government House in Christiansted, St. Croix.
Motta, a 27-year employee of the V.I. Department of Education (VIDOE), is a special education teacher and the Modified Instruction Department chairperson at John H. Woodson Jr. High School. The teacher of the year received flowers, gifts and praise from Commissioner of Education Sharon Ann McCollum Ph.D., V.I. Board of Education members Terrence T. Joseph and Winona Hendricks, St. Croix Acting Superintendent of Schools Vaughn Hewitt, John H. Woodson Jr. High Principal Rodney Moorehead and St. Croix Federation of Teachers President Rosa Soto Thomas.
“It’s a humbling but pleasurable experience to represent all the hardworking teachers in the territory,” said Motta, the chairperson of the Special Education Division at her school. “I am extremely grateful to the special education staff at Woodson Junior High, especially my para-educators.”
As the V.I. State Teacher of the Year, she plans to get busy adopting several roles, such as addressing the DOE’s mission to impart quality education to every student. However, her present task is to attend the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) 2016 convening of the state teachers of the year in San Antonio, Texas, from Jan. 19 – 24.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to meet and network with other state teachers of the year and attend educational workshops to learn new skills and techniques in instructing students in special education classes,” Motta said. “I am also looking forward to bringing back valuable information to all teachers that will advance the educational system of the Virgin Islands.”
