GLOCESTER – The National Education Association Rhode Island has announced that Ponaganset High School educator Lisa Tvenstrup will be the recipient of the 2026 NEARI Teaching Excellence Award. The honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to teaching and unwavering advocacy for public education, according to a release from NEARI.
A Johnston resident, Tvenstrup has devoted her 40-year career to PHS, where she has inspired generations of students through a diverse array of history and social studies courses, including East Asian History, World Cultures, Psychology, and Genocide.
“There’s something truly special about guiding students through learning – not just filling their minds with facts but helping them make meaningful connections to their own lives,” said Tvenstrup. “Seeing that spark when a lesson resonates, and later hearing from graduates who still carry those insights, is incredibly fulfilling.”
Tvenstrup notes that each course she teaches is designed to impact students on a personal level. In Psychology, students explore self-awareness; in Sociology, they gain tools to navigate relationships. Her World Cultures and East Asian History courses foster global empathy, underscoring the idea that “we are more alike than different.” In her Genocide studies course, students confront the haunting lesson of “never again,” learning that the intent behind genocide can be more devastating than war.
“Lisa is an open and receptive educator who thrives on collaboration with colleagues and students to make the learning process poignant,” said Elizabeth Reichardt, a Ponaganset literacy specialist and longtime colleague who traveled with Tvenstrup to Jihan, China, as part of a global education initiative. “She puts student learning at the forefront of every interaction and every pedagogical decision.”
A passionate advocate for public education, Tvenstrup has served on numerous school and district committees, acted as a class advisor and leadership team leader, and mentored aspiring teachers as a critic teacher at Rhode Island College. She sees schools as a second home and has spent decades enriching the Foster-Glocester Regional School District with her time, energy, and commitment, according to the awards notice.
“Early in my career, I realized NEARI was there to protect, guide, and support teachers so they could focus on one another and on our students,” said Tvenstrup.
Her dedication also extends to union advocacy, where she has served in multiple local and state positions.
“Whether as an elected officer of the local union, a bargaining or grievance committee member, or as a rank-and-file member, Lisa’s commitment to her union siblings is without parallel,” said RI AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley, who provided a letter of support for Tvenstrup’s nomination.
“Lisa is an invaluable member of NEA Ponaganset,” added NEA Ponaganset President Mary Kaeble. “Her thoughtful perspective and dedication ensure every voice is heard.”
Tvenstrup highlights her volunteer work with the NEARI Children’s Fund as among the most meaningful experiences of her career. The NEARI Children’s Fund is a charitable organization that provides emergency assistance to public school students whose families are struggling to meet basic needs, which so often stands in the way of learning.
For many years, Tvenstrup coordinated student volunteers at PHS to participate in the fund’s Gingerbread Express, a holiday gift-giving program that matches sponsors with public school children in need. At the D’Abate Elementary School in Providence – where the vast majority of students come from low-income families – every child was included in the celebration. Tvenstrup and her students joined other volunteers and traveled to the school to distribute gifts to every student, ensuring no child was left out of the holiday joy.
“Through the Gingerbread Express, I was able to connect my Ponaganset students with children in the neighborhood where I grew up,” said Tvenstrup. “The experience deepened their understanding of community and reinforced the idea that no matter where we live or what our circumstances, we are more alike than different.”
“Even today, former students who participated still reach out, eager to help again,” she added. “It’s a powerful reminder of the role educators – and our unions – play in building compassionate, socially responsible citizens.”
As part of the prestigious honor, Tvenstrup will travel to Washington, D.C., in February 2026 to be recognized at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, alongside educators from across the country.
Applicants for the NEARI Teaching Excellence Award are evaluated on their professional practice, advocacy for education, commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, community and family engagement, and leadership in professional development. Tvenstrup was selected from a competitive pool by a committee of NEARI officers and members.
