PETERSHAM – After 25 years teaching at Petersham Center School, Nichole Ruggles said that every day holds a chance for a surprise.

Case in point—the day that the school’s Principal Aaron O’Connor and Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Zielinski told Ruggles that she was among the recipients of a Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.

Ruggles will be honored at an in-person banquet at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on April 30.

“I was really, really surprised,” said Ruggles, who teaches reading and social studies. “It’s a real big deal when this happens.”

The Excellence in Teaching Awards program, now in its 22nd year, is made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation and supported by the American International College, Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, and Meyers Brothers Kalicka.

“Teachers are some of the hardest working people,” said Excellence in Teaching Awards Program Director Uli Nagel at the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation. “We are privileged to honor and celebrate these extraordinary individuals whose dedication and impact reaches far beyond the classroom and who deserve all our appreciation and acknowledgment.”

Zielinski said “Nicole is an exceptional teacher and an excellent communicator with her students’ families. She consistently seeks to grow her skills and deepen her knowledge of the curriculum. Humble and dedicated, she gives her best every day to support her students and ensure their success.”

Following graduation from Assumption College, Ruggles’ teaching career began with a long-term substitute position in Barre, where she taught second grade. Among her students was the daughter of the Petersham school’s principal. Through this connection, she learned of an opening for a middle school teacher, and though uncertain, decided to apply.

“Middle school kids, they’re trying to find out who they are as young adults – they still act really young and other times they’ll surprise you with this maturity, so every day is a different day,” she said.

In the announcement for the award, Ruggles was said to exemplify “excellence in education through her unwavering dedication to her students. She builds meaningful relationships, creating a classroom environment where every student feels valued and empowered. Her passion for literature is infectious, inspiring a lifelong love of reading in her students.”

Ruggles has a library in her classroom and works to impart her love of reading to the students. She spoke of how the class is writing poetry and making their own poetry books.

“They’re quite enjoying it,” she said. “They’re learning poetry is not what they thought it would be.”

Ruggles said it’s important to allow students to have a voice. A teacher of fifth and sixth graders, she said they often have something to share and it can help their learning to give them a say in what happens. To that end, she starts each day with a morning meeting where she and the students share what is going on in their lives.

“They want to be listened to and I think if you give them a chance they’re really going to open up to you,” Ruggles said.

Ruggles credited the collaborative environment at PCS for what she has accomplished as a teacher. Class sizes at the school have increased from 12 students when she started to 22-25. She works with a parent educator, special education teacher, and another teacher who leads the math and science classes. She said there’s been some concern over having enough resources and supports recent efforts to increase funding to rural schools.

“That’s the thing about Petersham is we don’t do it alone,” Ruggles said. “We’re a team, everyone in the building.”

Max Bowen can be reached at mbowen@atholdailynews.com or 413-930-4074.