Providence names 2025 Teacher of the Year

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — As the school year winds down and students in Providence Public Schools prepare for their last day, one teacher has received one of the district’s biggest awards.

Maria Torres, a teacher at Leviton Dual Language School, was officially named the Providence Public School District (PPSD) 2025 Teacher of the Year on Wednesday.

Torres is a PPSD alumni herself, and has spent her 22 years as a teacher within the Providence school district, with her last seven years spent at Leviton.

In addition to teaching, Torres is a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team and Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Team, as well as coaching the school’s basketball team.

Providence superintendent Javier Montañez said in a statement that Torres “ensures students feel seen and heard, and as a dual language instructor… tailors lessons to meet students where they’re at, providing meaningful support.”