Rob Perry

EAST PROVIDENCE — City native and long-time school district employee Rob Perry is making a municipal switch, leaving his position as principal at Riverside Middle School to become the new Human Resources director for the city.

Mayor Bob DaSilva made the announcement of Perry’s appointment in a press release Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 10.

Perry will be responsible for management training, recruitment, performance evaluation systems as well as contract negotiations. He will be responsible for addressing the Administration’s goals to update the city’s policies and procedures, IT infrastructure in HR and create a robust employee training program to train employees on supervisory and other skills.

“Mr. Perry’s more than 15 years in a leadership role as an administrator, principal and IT expert with vast experience in dealing with policies, procedures and education will be invaluable to the position of Human Resources director,” DaSilva said. “Mr. Perry’s unique set of skills, education, and background will be a great fit for our team and the City of East Providence.”

Perry has for the last four-plus terms been principal at RMS. According to the mayor’s release, “he has increased parent engagement, took a leading role in hiring teachers and staff, led a number district-wide curriculum efforts, and founded the RMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.”

Perry will remain in his role as principal at Riverside Middle School until January 30, then take on his new role with the city in early February.

Perry served as assistant principal with a stint as an interim principal at Edward R. Middle School.

Prior to entering administration, he was a Latin teacher at East Providence, Barrington and Attleboro High Schools and adjunct lecturer at the University of Rhode Island.

“Having worked with families in East Providence over three decades, I understand the priorities of the people of our city and their expectations of government,” Perry said. “I am really looking forward to helping to build on the same enthusiasm that Mayor DaSilva has brought to East Providence over the past four years. It is an exciting time to work in East Providence.”

Perry earned his Doctorate of Education at Northeastern University, Master of Education at Providence College and Bachelor of Arts in classics at the University of New Hampshire.