By REBECCA SIBIELSKI

While many New Year’s resolutions never make it past the first few weeks of January, Mrs. Rhode Island America Pageant contestant Denise Turcotte is following hers all the way through.

Turcotte decided she wanted to do something different for her resolution. She doesn’t eat sweets or smoke, so instead of tackling bad habits, she entered herself in the Mrs. R.I. America Pageant. On May 20 she will compete against 15 other women at Alpine Country Club in Cranston for the title of 2007 Mrs. R.I. America. The winner will go on to represent Rhode Island in the Mrs. America Pageant.

Turcotte is married and has four children: Kyle, 13, Nathan, 10, Nicholas, 8, and Madisyn, 4. In 1996 she received an elementary and special education degree from Rhode Island College and went back to get her master’s of education degree, which she received in 2002. Turcotte has been teaching for 12 years, the past eight at Greystone Elementary School in North Providence, where she teaches the fifth grade. She said it is important that she sets a good example for both her children and the students she teaches.

“I don’t want them to be afraid to try something they have never tried before,” said Turcotte. “They need to know that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, you should just be proud to say ‘I did it.’”

Students at Greystone are excited about the pageant and want to know if they can watch their teacher compete on TV. Although this event won’t be televised, if Turcotte makes it to the next level, fans will be able to watch her at the Mrs. America Pageant, which airs in August.

“I would be thrilled to go on to represent Rhode Island,” said Turcotte. She feels her experience as a mother, wife and teacher can inspire others who strive to balance having a family, a career and time to enjoy life. Turcotte claims it’s all very possible.

Possible, yes, but no one mentioned anything about it being easy. Turcotte takes care of four children with busy schedules of their own, teaches full time, leads an after-school drama club (which has an upcoming production in May), does martial arts with her family five to six times each week and still makes time for pageant preparations.

Turcotte describes her life as a juggling act.

“I work better under pressure,” Turcotte said.

That’s a good thing, because there was a lot of work to do for the pageant.

To stay in shape, Turcotte, her husband, Troy, and their four children attend martial arts classes at East West Black Belt Academy in Centerdale. Health has always been an important part of Turcotte’s life. She taught health classes for four years before becoming a fifth-grade teacher and wants people to be inspired to make it an important part in their lives as well.

Last summer Turcotte cut sweets out of her diet and began focusing on eating more healthfully. Since then her husband has taken strides to lose weight and stay in shape. It is that type of reaction she hopes to see from others when they notice her dedication.

Turcotte also needed to get sponsorship to cover the initial entrance fee. She had a number of contributors who reached out to help. Among them were Mayor Joseph Polisena, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, Sen. Christopher Maselli, Rep. Deborah Fellela and School Committee member Sandra Comella-Gabaree.

Any extra money left over from the registration fee went to the purchase of an evening gown, the part of the pageant Turcotte is looking forward to the most. It’s the part of the competition where she gets to walk on stage wearing her beautiful gown with her husband – Turcotte’s biggest supporter – as her escort.

The pageant is judged in three parts. There is an interview process, a swimsuit presentation, and evening-wear presentation. If there were a talent portion, Turcotte would have danced. She was a dancer her whole life, but gave it up to raise a family and allow her children to pursue their interests.

Through activities like her after-school drama club and martial arts, Turcotte is nevertheless able to do what she loves and still give to those she cares about.

Turcotte is excited to compete. Past competitors have told her their experience with the pageant has been wonderful, but she doesn’t have any expectations. She thinks she’ll have a better idea after a rehearsal on May 2.

If she wins the title of Mrs. Rhode Island America, Turcotte plans to continue working with children.

“They are my passion,” Turcotte said.

She also expressed the need for more after-school programs. Greystone didn’t have one until she stepped up to take on the task.

Boldly trying new things seems to be Turcotte’s specialty. Her New Year’s resolution to do something she had never done before has come this far and still has a long way to go.

“I didn’t have enough self confidence growing up,” said Turcotte who always wanted to compete in the Miss Rhode Island pageants, but never followed through. With age, experience, motherhood, and a challenging career, Turcotte has gained the confidence to accomplish the things she sets her mind to.