Through a multifaceted approach of mindfulness, collaborative teaching, and project-based learning, Maria Santonastaso has created a nurturing classroom environment for her kindergartners at Glen Hills Elementary School. Santonastaso sparks curiosity, creativity, and peer interactions as she pairs her students with fourth grade “buddies” and leads Socratic seminars. Using student data, she prioritizes early literacy skills and works with fellow faculty members to ensure that all students receive individualized instruction. Also incorporating interdisciplinary, inquiry-based curriculum through the state-sponsored Kindergarten Curriculum Project, Santonastaso engages students in hands-on assignments, like a wild animal research project concluding with student-led presentations and a showcase for parents and families. This exciting unit has garnered visits from district and state officials, as well as a live owl visit from the Audubon Society.
Leading with a positive mindset and desire for lifelong learning, Santonastaso has earned the respect of students and colleagues alike. She participates in Aligning the Learning Day by staying after school to provide additional academic support for students. A supervisor for student teachers at Glen Hills, Santonastaso opens her classroom to observation while working to refine her own instruction and classroom management.
Santonastaso’s experience broadens out to the community where she is an adjunct professor of early childhood education at Rhode Island College (her alma mater), an active member of the early childhood advisory committee, and a contributor to the college’s early childhood STEAM curriculum. Additionally, she served as an Educator Preparation Program reviewer for the Rhode Island Department of Education, where she assisted with the evaluation process and ensured that aspiring teachers received high-quality training. Outside of the classroom, Santonastaso is a member of the school improvement team, teaches an after-school yoga class for students, coordinates a cheer squad for sporting events, attends PTA meetings, and guides summer kindergarten orientation.
Santonastaso is a two-time Rhode Island College graduate. In 2014, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education and a Bachelor of Science specializing in severe intellectual disabilities. In 2019, she received a Master of Education in reading.
Press Release: America's First 2024-25 Milken Educator Award Goes to … Remarkable Rhode Island Teacher Maria Santonastaso!
