Norma Ann Garnett taught Spanish at Toll Gate High School, where she was chairman of the foreign language department since 1971. A teacher for nearly 25 years, this former Rhode Island Teacher of the year (1971) was nominated again in 1988 and was named the state's Foreign Language Teacher of the Year for 1990. Dr. Garnett who originated and co-directed La Escuelita - a citywide after-school Spanish enrichment program - was past president of the Warwick-West Bay branch of the American Association of University Women. Founder of two Rhode Island Chapters of the National Spanish Honor Society, she also served as a state consultant and committee member of the Rhode Island Distinguished Merit Exams in French, Italian, and Spanish. In addition to her consulting duties, Dr. Garnett was co-chair of the 9th Biennial Northeast Regional Meeting (AATSP) held in Providence, RI, Sept. 21-24, 2000. She was also co-editing an interactive, computer-based, multi-media Spanish language/culture instructional program for the Internet. Additionally, Dr. Garnett was coordinating the Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools (FLES) initiative for the state of Rhode Island, sponsored by the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association.
The national, and international, network of communications which the Milken Family Foundation has provided for Milken Educators is the greatest tool for us to utilize as educators and concerned citizens of our country. I encourage everyone to fully integrate this tech source into our regular professional involvement.
1952 Colby College, B.A.
