Virginia M. C. da Mota, Educator, Providence, RI

Virginia M. C. da Mota, born in the Azores – a Portuguese Archipelago, was an educator in the United States for more than 32 years before retiring in 1997. She began her career teaching in a classroom and finished her career as the Director of the Office of Integrated Social Services at the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

During her career, she administered a myriad of key programs including: comprehensive school health; nutrition; character education; safe and drug free schools; child opportunity zone family centers; early childhood education; and other programs. These programs were designed to assist schools to provide safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environments for students.