Newport Public Schools

Pell Elementary School kindergarten teacher Diane McBrier has been named the Newport Public School District Teacher of the Year for the 2026-2027 school year.

Mrs. McBrier is a veteran educator with 28 years of teaching experience, 26 with Newport Public Schools. She has served in various capacities across the district, teaching at Underwood School, Sheffield School, Coggeshall School, and Cranston-Calvert School before joining the staff at Pell Elementary in 2013.

“As a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McBrier has helped shape the educational pathways of so many Newport students,” said Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D. “Fellow teachers and her students all praise the welcoming, patient, and caring atmosphere she creates in her classroom. Newport Public Schools are lucky to have such a dedicated educator, and we are proud to recognize Mrs. McBrier as Teacher of the Year.”

Known for her pedagogical excellence, Mrs. McBrier has consistently demonstrated an ability to create a classroom environment grounded in patience, consistency, and care. Her focus on relationship-building and empathy was highlighted by a former student who recently invited Mrs. McBrier to their 8th-grade graduation, stating that she "changed the trajectory" of their life by providing a safe and nurturing space during a time of personal instability.

Beyond her work in the classroom, Mrs. McBrier has been a leader within the district. Her professional contributions include:

• Serving on the School Improvement Team.

• Participating in the Teacher Support Team to help colleagues address academic and behavioral challenges.

• Mentoring new teachers to promote their professional growth and development.

• Piloting the "Wonders" reading and writing program and helping align the district's literacy curriculum with Common Core Standards.

“On behalf of the Newport School Committee, I want to extend congratulations to Mrs. McBrier on her well-deserved recognition as Teacher of the Year,” said School Committee Chairman James Dring. “It takes a special educator to spark a lifelong love of learning and exploration, and that is exactly what she has done for students in her kindergarten classrooms for the past 26 years.”

Mrs. McBrier earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and her Master in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood from Salve Regina. She holds a Rhode Island Early Childhood Education (PreK-2) certification.