A powerhouse of brilliance and compassion, Diana Petrosinelli is an innovative educator who creatively incorporates the latest teaching methodologies. Students hone computer skills by compiling their own digital proficiency portfolios. To showcase the work of her English students, she adopted a "science fair" model, displaying her students' major projects in a large space so that other classes can tour the exhibition. Under her tutelage, even struggling readers improve their skills and come to enjoy reading so much that they actively seek out adolescent literature to read on their own. A motivator of both students and staff and tireless in her efforts to improve teaching and learning, Ms. Petrosinelli is one of the school's most active staff leaders, chairing numerous committees. Former students often return from college to share how well prepared they were thanks to Ms. Petrosinelli's instruction.
Since receiving her Milken Educator Award, Petrosinelli has remained very happily at Cranston High School East, earning an administrative certification. She has chosen to work in the classroom instead of at the administrative level throughout the past decade, but she works consistently on "big picture" projects each year. She loves her students and participates heavily in the district's curriculum development. She has also continued to work on Cranston East's improvement team and has worked with the school's administration to oversee the scheduling and implementation of the RI Department of Education's "Personalization" and "Individual Learning Plans" requirements. She also runs the school's "Crystal Apple Awards" program for teachers and recently became a teacher mentor within the building. Â
