BURRILLVILLE – A sixth grade teacher at Burrillville Middle School was named Teacher of the Year this week by the Burrillville School Committee.
Kyle Wilson started teaching in Burrillville in 2008 as a fourth grade teacher at Steere Farm Elementary School. He has taught mathematics at BMS since 2017.
“In his classes and in the relationships he builds with his students, his passion and his great love of teaching shine through,” said Committee Chairman Mark Brizard. “Mr. Wilson is a shining example of what it means to be an outstanding teacher.”
Wilson has a master’s degree in teaching from Roger Williams University and was a Fuse Fellow for the Highlander Institute. He was one of four teachers nominated for the honor by his peers.
“He works tirelessly to strike a balance between holding his students to rigorous standards and creating a nurturing environment within which those expectations can be met,” said Brizard. “For him, teaching is not just about getting his students through the required class, it’s about bringing humility, empathy and the right mindset to his classroom, and encouraging his students to do the same.”
Other teachers recognized by the committee this week were Austin T. Levy Elementary School speech and language therapist Patricia Rendine; Steere Farm special education and elementary classroom teacher Kimberly Gould; and Burrillville High School science teacher Ryan McNulty.
But it was Wilson who ultimately received the district’s top educator honor in 2019, with presentation of a certificate that read, “An outstanding teacher takes a hand opens a mind and touches a heart.”
“On any given day, anyone could walk through Kyle’s class and hear him asking his students not just what the answer is, but whether they’ve had any ‘ah ha’ moments as they’ve worked to solve problems,” said Brizard. “Kyle knows that solutions don’t always come quickly and that a productive struggle is a good thing a real life skill for his students.”
