POY Cheryl Vaughn with Executive Director Bob Littlefield and Superintendent Philip Thornton

One of our most experienced school leaders in Rhode Island is finally getting the recognition she deserves. A special educator by trade, Vaughn spent fourteen years in schools in Corpus Christi, TX before coming to Rhode Island where she began her career as an administrator in Woonsocket, Cumberland, and East Greenwich before returning to Cumberland in 2017 as principal of Community School.

Her letter of nomination was signed by "the entire staff at Community School" and cited her total commitment to improving student achievement while maintaining a culture where everyone feels valued.  The letter describved her as "the perfect blend of professionalism, knowledge, compassion, and hard work.  Our school’s numerous accolades are a testament to her leadership. Within our district, Cheryl is often the first to implement new initiatives with fidelity. She handles herself with composure and professionalism in even the most trying situations.  Cheryl makes it a priority to foster a relationship with not only her faculty and staff, but with the hundreds of families that call our school home."

In the year of her nomination she led the process to uproot her school and move to a temporary location on the high school campus while her building underwent renovation. And the children never missed a minute of learning due in large part to Cheryl's tireless leadership. She is praised by parents for her communication and her efforts to include them in school improvement efforts. 

Cheryl is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in special education. She earned her master of science degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University/Corpus Christi.