On May 18, Cranston Public Schools World Language teacher Rebecca Hobin will be awarded the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association Novice Teacher of the Year Award.

Hobin, who has been in the Cranston School System for two years, has worked with students at both Cranston High School West and Cranston High School East.

Co-nominated by both schools’ World Language Department Chairs, West’s Lauren King and East’s Amy Ricci-Tum, both testified that Hobin has demonstrated a passion and commitment to her craft.

Hobin came to Cranston Public Schools in 2021 through emergency teacher certification, having received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Assumption University in Worcester, and was in the process of earning credits at Rhode Island College when she began the certification process.

Now continuing towards her master’s degree in education at RIC, Hobin feels that in the classroom she is in the right place.

“I studied abroad in Seville, Spain,” Hobin said, “and I just grew to love the language.”

“Not only the language, but the culture, the diversity of the Spanish culture, and the linguistic diversity,” she continued.

“But my passion for teaching didn’t come until I met my students and realized that this is a content area that I love.”

Cranston High School West World Language Department Chair Lauren King introduced the idea of nomination to Amy Ricci-Tum, because Hobin has been alternating between schools, and both chairs had experience with her. Hobin spent last year at Cranston High School West, but has been at Cranston High School East during the 2022-2023 school year.

Because Hobin has not yet worked for the district for three years, her position is itinerant on the needs of the district.

“My hope is to remain at one of the two high schools,” she said.

Both King and Ricci-Tum expressed that they were impressed by Hobin’s level of commitment to language learning and her willingness to be part of each school’s team.

Amy Ricci-Tum said, “Whenever I have an idea or something I would like to do as a department, I can always count on Becky to be on board with it. I know Becky is going to be supportive and be somebody who will volunteer to help out.”

“I think your level of commitment is just something that Amy and I just noticed one day at our schools,” King told Hobin during their meeting with the Herald. “I think you are an exemplar to others in the field, and in our department as well.”

“Even though she’s been here a short time, people know that she’s a super positive and optimistic person. She has fit in so well with our department. It’s like she’s been here forever,” Tum said.

Hobin says she has learned a lot in the whirlwind two years since she’s been teaching in Cranston, but the biggest lesson she’s learned so far is the value of hard work and teaching students how to work hard.

“My father is my biggest example,” Hobin shared. “He’s been in education for a long time, but my dad is a very committed person to whatever he does. And I try to be the same way.”

She explained that she tries to teach students – both the passionate ones and those for whom Spanish is not their favorite – that they can do anything they put their minds to.

“That’s what gets me to work every day, that somebody has to teach students how to set goals, set high expectations for themselves, and work hard towards their goals.”

A second lesson she’s learned is that you cannot teach every class the same way, that educators must be flexible and adaptable and meet each class where it’s at to be successful.

Although Hobin’s award, which was only granted to one novice teacher in Rhode Island, has not yet officially been bestowed upon her, both schools and the school department have announced and celebrated the honor.

The Rhode Island Foreign Language Association awards ceremony honoring Hobin and others will take place at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England at 500 Greenwich Avenue in Warwick.