By EMMA BARTLETT

Last week, Cranston West’s special education teacher Angela Paliotte passed away due to an autoimmune disorder she was diagnosed with in 2015. She was 56 years old.

“Angela was the most giving of persons and loved being a teacher. She was a teacher in everything she did and never put herself first,” said her husband Richard Paliotte Jr.

Angela grew up in Plattsburgh, New York, and met Richard right after graduating high school at age 18; Richard was 19 at the time as an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force. Angela went on to attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington for her first year of school but transferred to the State University of New York at Plattsburgh for the remaining three years. While not speaking for her, Richard said the distance in their relationship drew her back to New York.

The couple eventually moved to Cranston – where Richard grew up – and decided to raise their children Thomas and Caroline here. Angela earned a master’s degree in education from Providence College and was hired as a Cranston West department chair in 2004.

Cranston West Principal Tom Barbieri chaired the interview committee at that time.

“I immediately knew the day she walked in for the interview that this was a person who would make Cranston West a better place just by her presence, demeanor and smile – her positive attitude was contagious,” said Barbieri.

Angela spent two years as a department chair before becoming a special education teacher. As a team teacher, she helped students in the math department and worked in transition classes for students with IEPs (individualized education plans) and disabilities. Angela team-taught with Deborah Hornung and Ilesha Senna. They were two of Angela’s friends inside and outside of work and said Angela took this new position to work more closely with students.

A passion for teaching

Richard said Angela’s father was a teacher for 30 years in New York, but Angela took teaching to a whole new level. She was a constant advocate for students and made sure they received the services they needed. Richard said Angela gave her personal number to students for them to call her on weekends, evenings, summer vacation and even after graduation.

Caroline, who initially pursued a degree in teaching while attending Rhode Island College, had the opportunity to teach at Cranston West with her mom’s colleagues. She said it was fun to watch her mom teach classes.

“She had a great sense of humor in the classroom, grabbing their attention and keeping them engaged,” Caroline said.

Deborah and Ilesha also noted Angela’s humor and said Angela would create jokes or tricks so students would remember math formulas.

“She did a rap to the quadratic formula,” said Deborah.

Angela also created a phrase ‘shout out to ma,’ with ma being multiplication and addition for factoring problems. The phrase helped students remember what to do and Deborah said they’d have students asking, ‘do we do the ma, here?’”

Angela constantly worked with students, and Deborah said Angela once stayed up until 10 p.m. helping a student virtually. Even after Angela did not return to work this past September, students still reached out to her for help, and she continued to assist them.

“One of the parents told me she [Angela] treated her children like they were her own,” said David Schiappa, Assistant Principal for Special Services at Cranston West.

Schiappa worked with Angela for 15 years and said she was a teacher parents trusted, which led to many of them wanting her to case manage their children.

“She made a huge impact on me. She pushed me to continue to brainstorm for solutions to assist kids and students,” Schiappa said.

Angela’s presence will not be forgotten at Cranston West.

“Losing someone like Angela was a loss for the whole community and she definitely will be missed…Angela’s legacy will live on in all of us,” said Barbieri, mentioning that he had the honor of handing Angela’s two children their diplomas.

“She was a good right to the bone person, and her family was a reflection of that.”

Richard said Angela loved her profession and anticipated on going back and teaching. Up to two weeks ago, she was still concerned about when she would get to return.

The importance of family

Richard and Angela’s two children, Caroline and Thomas, both went to Cranston Public Schools and are now in their mid-twenties. Richard, who worked 10 to 12 hours a day, said Angela did the work of two parents. Whether it was an academic or athletic activity, Angela was there for all dance, lacrosse, wrestling, baseball, “westernette” events and crew events.

“I loved having her as my mother; we would do everything together,” said Caroline, mentioning their mini getaway trips to Cape Cod and going to the beach every day in the summer.

Caroline described her mom as caring and humble and said she loved having her at the same school and would sit and have lunch with her.

“She cared for my brother and I so much,” Caroline said.

Caroline mentioned that during college she studied abroad in Italy but was nervous and wanted to come home. She called home. Her mom said she was brave and she believed in her. Caroline made it through the two months, talking to her mom every day.

Thomas was proud of his relationship with his mom. She was very supportive in all of his academic and career decisions.

As for hobbies, Angela loved all things outdoors – whether it was hiking the Adirondacks, cycling, playing golf or growing up horseback riding.

“She absolutely loved going to the beach,” Richard said.

Angela was also an animal lover with two dogs: Beau (a boxer) and Hannah (a lhasa apso).

Richard said everywhere they went together, Angela would make conversation with strangers – oftentimes becoming friends with people within minutes.

“On our honeymoon in Orlando, Florida, she befriended two gentlemen who were sitting next to us while we waited for a whale and sea lion show to begin. Us on our honeymoon, they were there killing time while their RV was being repaired at a local mechanic. After an hour-long conversation, we parted ways. But before we parted one of the gentlemen turned and said to us ‘have a nice life kids.’ And we did.”