RI High School/Secondary Principal of the YearEach year RIASP selects a Rhode Island High School Principal of the year who then becomes eligible for consideration as the National High School Principal of the Year. The NASSP National Principal of the Year award program annually recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. These principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession. The program honors school principals who have demonstrated excellence in collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; and personalization. Anyone may nominate an eligible principal – a superintendent, a principal, a teacher, a parent, a student. | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS High School Principal of the Year 2005 - Gerald Foley - North Kingstown High School 2006 - Robert Mitchell - Chariho Regional High School 2007 - Colleen Gribbin - St. Mary's Academy Bay View 2008 - Robert Littlefield - Portsmouth High School 2009 - Daniel Warner - Narragansett High School 2010 - Patti DiCenso - Rogers High School 2011 - Dennis Mullen - Pilgrim High School 2012 - Daniel Kelley - Smithfield High School 2013 - Michael Hobin - Coventry High School 2014 - Scott Sutherland - Mount Pleasant High School 2015 - Alan J. Tenreiro - Cumberland High School (2016 - Category combined with Middle School and made Secondary title) 2016 - Jason Masterson - McCourt Middle School 2017 - Christopher Savastano - William E. Tolman High School 2018 - Joseph Hurley - Barrington High School 2019 - Kevin McNamara - Lincoln High School 2020 - Craig MacKenzie - Chariho Regional High School 2021 - Deborah DiBiase - Mt. Hope High School 2022 - Scott Barr - Providence Classical High School 2023 - Robert McCarthy - Central Falls High School |
2024 Secondary Principal of the Year
Bethany Coughlin - North Cumberland Middle School
Bethany receiving her award from RIASP President Mike Hassell
If a focus on student achievement data is important to a successful school it is no surprise that North Cumberland Middle School remains one of the top performing schools in the state because, as superintendent Phil Thornton sees it, “Data-driven decision-making is a habit of the mind at NCMS. It is not by accident that this is the case. It is due to Beth’s leadership and relentless attention to improving student achievement. Her no-excuses commitment to the work is infectious.”
Data discussions are the norm when determining instructional impact, student growth, and potential need for support. When teachers, counselors, or administration meet with a student and/or a parent, their “data journey” is reviewed. This culture shift, which has everyone responsible for student data, has been an integral part of improving teaching and learning and has led to significant increases in student growth and achievement. A school-wide initiative in math has resulted in NCMS ranked #1 among Rhode Island middle schools in math achievement.
Her assistant principal Tanya Rao sums it up nicely, ““Beth is so passionate about her work as an educator. Her focus on student achievement never wavers, so every decision is made to ensure students receive any and all of the supports they need to find success at NCMS. She is the consummate professional in everything she does and I could not ask for a better partner in leadership.”
Coughlin has spent her entire career in Cumberland schools including 23 years in the classroom as a math teacher. She became principal at NCMS after a short time as assistant principal at McCourt Middle. A graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in secondary education mathematics, she earned her Master’s degree in school leadership at Providence College.