Administrative Changes Ahead for EP Schools, New EPHS Principal

When East Providence schools open on Tuesday, September 1st this year, students and staff will find several new administrators on hand. Due to retirements, resignations and transfers, almost every level of the district, from Central Administration on down will see some changes. "This is the time of year when change can occur in the schools," said school committee Chairman Charles Tsonos in an interview with The Reporter. "It's not unusual that this cycle of changes happens every once in awhile," said Tsonos.

A major change for the district will be at the high school where Principal Janet Sheehan has told her staff that she will not return in September as principal. On July 14th the school committee named high school Assistant Principal, Shani Wallace as new Principal, effective August 24th, 2015. Ms. Sheehan has been facing health issues recently and has decided to leave her position as Townie Principal.

Shani Wallace is a veteran of East Providence schools having served as an Assistant Principal at Martin Middle School prior to being named Assistant Principal at EPHS. Wallace has been responsible for attendance and discipline as well as administrative academic duties at both Martin and currently the high school. Sheehan and the district haven't announced her official status, either retirement or resignation or other designation, but Sheehan has informed her staff that she will not return in September. It is unclear if the district advertised the high school principalship as an opening or if Ms. Wallace was just elevated to the post.

Replacing Wallace as high school Assistant Principal will be Martin Middle School Principal Frank DeVall.

Former Riverside Middle School Principal Sandra Forand will return to the district as Principal of Martin. Forand previously worked at Martin and after a stint as Riverside Middle Principal, took a leave of absence to work for the RI Department of Education.

Elaine Allen, the current Assistant Principal at Martin will leave that job to become the Principal of Hennessey Elementary school. Allen will replace Dr. Carrie McWilliams who has resigned from Hennessey to work elsewhere in education.

Stephen Prew, who previously was Principal at Riverside Middle School and was moved to an alternative education program at the high school housed in the career center, will now be the new Principal at Kent Heights Elementary School. Prew is replacing Fatima Avila who is taking a leave as Principal to teach 5th grade at Kent Heights.

Former elementary principal David Britto will remain in the alternative ed program at the Career Center.

Another major change is the resignation of district Assistant Superintendent Julie Motta. As of this time the school committee has not named a replacement for Motta.

Other schools in the districts and their principals are: Career Technical School, Karen Mellen, Director. Riverside Middle School, Dr. Cheri Guerra, Principal. Myron J. Francis School, Lloydanne Leddy, Principal. Oldham School, Donna Peluso, Principal. Orlo Avenue School, Yanaiza Gallant, Principal. Silver Spring School, Kathleen Caffrey, Principal. Waddington School, Patricia Barlow, Principal. Whiteknact School, Dr. Nadine Lima, Principal. The status of elementary school Principal Cheryl Gibbs continues to remain unknown as Gibbs is not assigned to any school.

"We may be facing more changes as the Superintendent (Kim Mercer) continues to organize and plan for school staffing. It's all under the Superintendent's purview to place people," added Chairman Tsonos. Tsonos wanted to make note of the district's ever-changing staff. "We have some new energetic people in the city. We are really pleased with the hiring of Orlo Principal Yanaiza Gallant. Her appointment was a homerun for us. She is a great team player, very energetic and thinks the world of East Providence," said Tsonos.

Should any of the district's current administrators choose to seek the vacant position of Assistant Superintendent, there could be further changes to the system's administrative flowchart.