Analyze this: Yanaiza Gallant got the shock of her life when she was presented with a prestigious Milken Educator Award – and $25,000 to boot. A former student in Providence schools herself, Yanaiza promotes student achievement through personalized literacy plans for students at Lillian Feinstein Elementary School. State Acting Education Commissioner David V. Abbott and Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley joined in the fanfare, with Foley making the big announcement. First discouraged by a high school counselor not to pursue college, it was Yanaiza’s teacher Mr. Robert who turned things around. "It took a special teacher to stand up for me to see that I could go to college," Yanaiza told the students. "I know that this is what these teachers do for you every day."
