She meets students where they are. She believes in them even when they may not believe in themselves.”

NEARI President Val Lawson

PORTSMOUTH — Every summer, long after grades are finalized and the hallways at Portsmouth High School have gone quiet, Michelle Murtha sits down to write postcards.

Not generic notes. Not mass-produced messages.

Each one is handwritten and personal, sent to students she taught during the previous school year — teenagers who, in many cases, arrived in her classroom carrying academic struggles, emotional burdens, or the belief that school simply was not a place where they could succeed.

The postcards are short reminders that someone still sees them.

You matter.

I believe in you.

Don’t give up.

For Murtha, a special educator in Portsmouth High School’s Therapeutic Academic Program, the notes are not extraordinary gestures. They are simply part of the job.

But for the students who receive them, they often mean far more.

That steady commitment to students — inside the classroom and beyond it — recently earned Murtha statewide recognition as the 2027 recipient of the National Education Association Rhode Island Teaching Excellence Award.

Murtha has spent more than 25 years in education, working primarily with students facing significant academic and social-emotional challenges. In Portsmouth’s TAP program, she helps students who may feel disconnected from school rebuild confidence, develop stability, and find a path forward academically.

Her approach, colleagues say, starts with relationships.

“She meets students where they are,” said NEARI President Val Lawson. “She believes in them even when they may not believe in themselves.”

That belief can take many forms: daily check-ins, difficult conversations, patience during setbacks, or simply consistency.

One student entered the TAP program disengaged and resistant, convinced school was never going to work out for her. Murtha kept reaching out anyway — listening without judgment, encouraging small steps forward, and reinforcing that they were working through the challenges together.

Over time, the student began showing up more consistently. Her behavior improved. She started participating in class again and eventually passed her courses.

Murtha said those moments are what matter most.

“I see families as essential partners in their child’s success,” she said. “I prioritize open communication and relationship building so families feel informed, respected, and included.”

Colleagues at Portsmouth High describe Murtha as both deeply compassionate and relentlessly dependable.

Nathaniel Perry, who has worked alongside Murtha for more than two decades, said she consistently helps students receive the accommodations and support they need while also assisting fellow teachers.

“Her calm, solutions-focused approach makes her an invaluable member of our school community,” Perry said.

Murtha’s influence also extends beyond the classroom. She has served as a building representative, vice president, and secretary for NEA Portsmouth, taking on leadership roles within the local teachers union while mentoring colleagues along the way.

Widespread respect

School counselor Melissa Belotti-Stien said Murtha has earned widespread respect among both teachers and administrators.

“She has fostered positive relationships with teachers and administrators, and she is deeply respected within the union community,” Belotti-Stien said.

In addition to being a National Board Certified Teacher, Murtha has completed advanced training in autism education and regularly shares teaching strategies and professional development with educators throughout the district.

Still, ask people who know her what stands out most, and they are unlikely to mention credentials or awards first.

They talk about the postcards.

The handwritten notes that arrive unexpectedly during the summer months.

The reminder to struggling students that they have not been forgotten.