As the Island prepares for the first day back to school on September 5th, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools 2023 Convocation for teachers and staff kicked off the 2023-2024 school year in style on Thursday morning at the MVRHS Performing Arts Center. School teachers and staff from across the Island arrived at the PAC for […]
With music, speeches, flowers and resounding cheers, the Island community celebrated English language arts teacher Danielle (Dani) Charbonneau, who has just been named the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
Cheers and applause erupted from the audience at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School yesterday as alternative education teacher Danielle “Dani” Charbonneau in a surprise for her students was named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year for 2023.
Charbonneau teaches English and coordinates Project Vine, a voluntary alternative program for students who feel the classic model of school isn’t a good fit for them.
“What kind of a job could get me up at 4 a.m.? … Simply the best job I have ever had,” she said. “It's a job, though, that doesn't exist everywhere. And that's really what I've been on about through this whole Teacher of the Year process.”
Unlike many alternative education programs, Project Vine is integrated into the high school, with the same curriculum and hours, and takes place in the same building. Students take some of their classes together and meet regularly to create a close-knit group.