Committee approves hiring of new East Providence principals

Goncalo takes over at Waddington Elementary, Scott at Francis Elementary

By Mike Rego
Posted 7/11/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — Two of the city’s hallmark elementary schools will have new principals when the 2018-19 term commences in about six weeks time after the School Committee at its July 10 meeting …

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Committee approves hiring of new East Providence principals

Goncalo takes over at Waddington Elementary, Scott at Francis Elementary

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Two of the city’s hallmark elementary schools will have new principals when the 2018-19 term commences in about six weeks time after the School Committee at its July 10 meeting unanimously approved the recommendation of Superintendent Kathryn Crowley to hire Anne-Marie Scott and Karen Goncalo to the posts at Myron J. Francis and Alice M. Waddington, respectively.

“They come with outstanding resumes and recommendations,” Superintendent Crowley said in her preamble to the vote. “I think we have two outstanding candidates.”

The positions became available when the administration opted not to renew contracts with now former Waddington principal Patricia Barlow and former Kent Heights principal Stephen Prew. In the reorganization, previous Francis principal Lloydanne Leddy requested a transfer to a smaller building, which was granted with a move to Kent Heights.

Ms. Scott is a former elementary teacher in the East Providence School System, having spent 14 years as an instructor. She left the district four years ago to become an administrator in nearby Fall River. She spent the ensuing three years as a vice principal then principal at Carlton Viveiros Elementary School before being appointed the principal at the Frank M. Silvia Elementary School for the 2017-18 term. Her last position in city was as a third grade teacher at Waddington Elementary.

Ms. Goncalo is a first-time principal. She spent some 20 years in elementary level classrooms as a teacher, working for Superintendent Crowley at the Wilbur & McMahon School in the latter’s previous stop as lead administrator for the Little Compton district before coming to East Providence in the fall of 2015. The superintendent said she interacted closely with the new Waddington principal on matters of import when Ms. Goncalo was president of the Little Compton teachers union, encouraging her to earn her administrative accreditations.

The principal hires were two of a handful of new personnel approved by the committee last week, including several teachers. The superintendent expressed her appreciated for the competency and enthusiasm shown by the pool of prospective instructors.

“We’ve had some outstanding candidates for all of our teaching positions this year, some very young, very energetic, well-qualified individuals who have been applying for the teaching positions. And quite a few, I might add,” Superintendent Crowley said.

At-Large Committeeman Joel Monteiro referred to the recent contract approved by the district and the East Providence Education Association, the union of city teachers, which raised salaries more in line with similar systems around the state. He cited it as a catalyst to the increased number of applicants and their level of interest in seeking to work in the district.

“It’s amazing when you create a more competitive compensation schedule what it does,” Mr. Monteiro said.

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