Budget Commission OKs New Principals
Donna Raptakis to head Pothier, Lisa Jacques for Coleman.
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The Woonsocket Budget Commission has approved the hiring of Donna Raptakis and Lisa Jacques as principals of Pothier Elementary and Coleman Elementary, respectively.
The two $89,000 per year appointments were made by the Woonsocket School Committee early last week and approved by the Budget Commission during its Aug. 30 meeting.
Raptakis, the former principal of Washington Oak School in Coventry, attended the Budget Commission meeting. "I'm looking forward to it," Raptakis said shortly before the Commission approved the School Committee's appointments. Jacques did not attend.
"Dr. Raptakis comes to us with 28 years of excellence in teaching," said Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan. Raptakis was Washington Oak's principal for seven years. Before that, she was principal at Oak Haven in Coventry for nine years and an assistant principal at Washington Oak four years before that. She also spent two years as a teacher in Coventry Schools before becoming an administrator.
She began her career as a special education teacher in Stonington, CT for six years before coming to Rhode Island.
Raptakis resigned as principal of Washington Oak School in Coventry in May to pursue other opportunities, according to Coventry Superintendent Michael Convery. She replaces Principal Donna Coderre, who took over as principal at Leo Savoy School.
Jacques has been with the Woonsocket Education Department for 10 years, said School Committee member Anita McGuire-Forcier. She spent about eight years as a math teacher before taking a position as K-12 Mathematics Instructional Leader for the district. She replaces former Coleman and Fifth Avenue Schools principal Ronald Celio, who resigned.
In This article
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Governor Aram J. Pothier Elementary
420 Robinson St, Woonsocket, RI -
Kevin K. Coleman Elementary
96 2nd Ave, Woonsocket, RI
russell archambault
3:11 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
you tell me that a elementary school principal is worth 90,000 per year. what an insult to every tax paying citizen. school teaching is the biggest legal scam going. there are doctors that do not make that much. lets see who can justify this one. what a masters degree for babysitting school teachers in their school.
EssaySea
7:01 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
@russ - that's not really what you think a principal is do you? Principals are responsible for the education delivered in their respective schools...at least the good ones are. They're responsible for making sure everyone in that school delivers on what they're hired to do. They also have to be able to step in to any classroom and fill in if a teacher's sick, develop young teachers into professional, tough-skinned educators, etc. etc.
English first
8:27 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Russ just says things to get people stirred up.
John Ward Jr.
8:37 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
She's cute.Does anyone know if she's single?
russell archambault
8:53 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
JWJ; I hate to hurt your feelings but she's way out of your league.
taxed2death
5:44 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
are they getting new city cars to commute with ??????????????????
russell archambault
8:33 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
http://voices.yahoo.com/inside-rubber-rooms-teachers-dont-teach-5847292.html THIS SITE PROVIDED TO YOU BY A PATCH PROVIDER" HOPING FOR NOTHING"
russell archambault
9:46 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
by the way the mayor makes 80,000.00 babysitting over 30,000.00 people. 90,000.00 for babysitting 12 or so teachers.and responsible for the education delivered in their schools. ok If a child is not learning up to par, will that principal be responsible?If a teacher does not teach good enough ,will she fire that teacher.Has any principal ever go into a classroom to babysit if the teacher does not show up? I have question? if teachers have a certain number of sick days and personal days and other excuse days, how many days does that equal kids not really being taught. in that particular school. And also principals developing young teachers into "professional ", "tough-skinned" educators ? Maybe I just dont understand . Maybe getting the high paid principals will get the kids better educated. I should of gone to public grammer school. Now im realy angry at my parents!
DR
11:14 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Russell maybe a principle could be in charge of 2 elementary schools one half a day in each school with a lead teacher.That would cut the cost almost in half. Russ think about it when you become mayor you may have some influence on the school committee.
taxed2death
6:19 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
deeper deeper and deeper in debt we go Thankyou budget comm.great job in trimming the budget
taxed2death
6:21 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
city residents ????????????????????????????????????????????/
russell archambault
9:17 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Folks, when i become mayor, this sort of thing will not happen, two principals at 90 +per year . this is insane. there will be one overseer, plus i will regenalize more schools.Absolutly one middle school 7,8 graders, other middle school for 5,6 graders.there will no ten thousand meetings on the subject with non conforming parents either.it is what it will be. kids will have a chanc to learn better by grouping them properly, also each class room wih kids who need help will have 2+3 tutors in the classroom while the teacher teaches. no kid will not learn perfectly. kids who are more advanced will have larger classrooms, somewhat like colledge settings and be taught like colledge kids. I will make sure kids are interested to attend school. one way to achieve that one is find out what that kid is interested in and give him extra studies in that subject. If he decides he wants to be a bank robber, I will see to it that he has the skills to be the best, that kid will have people to volunties to come to school a few hours a week to teach that kid how to pick locks or break into safes. It will become the principles job to find the right people to help teach that kid so he stays interested. if the principal fails I will fire that principal.And have 3 others waiting for that job.All kids will graduate with a purpose! MY motto for the school system will be "State law can mandate Mayors thumb will educate" I as mayor have a responsibilty to all children to succedd !
DR
11:36 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Russ while you are on a roll as mayor you could contact the leaders of Cumberland and North Smithfield .You could suggest combining services police,fire and school. Just think of the field day you would have firing all the duplication.
DR
5:07 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Add Lincoln to the list and the library with extended hours and programs could be shared with the other towns.
Butter Cup
10:33 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Great Ideas!
I'm sure no teacher has EVER tried to get a child interested in school! I'm certain no effort has EVER been made by a teacher to figure out what drives and interests a child so that they will be excited and engaged in school activity! What happens when they have physical, mental or emotional abuse issues which they bring to school daily and a teacher must first work on these issues before the teaching begins??
I'm also certain teachers and principals haven't tried to get volunteers to come into schools to speak with the children and teach them various skills or mentor them. That's yet another great idea! Furthermore, I imagine teachers haven't WISHED and hoped they could have 2 or 3 tutors in the classroom to help the students while they teach the lessons! Should "tutors" expect to be PAID for this service or should they also be expected to volunteer?? Oh and without principals...when students are in a fight, not attending class or are leaving school grounds, whom should we send to help? The teachers that are in the classroom teaching?
Mr. Sluggo
10:30 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
A very positive post on new vocational ideas Russell,i commend you on thinking outside the box.
Sly
12:05 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Well folks,Another great move by are very smart BC.What would we do without them.
There's a place called Famville,I think between the BC,Fontaine, and Ward they would best be used there.All are in each other's cage. Principles are merely baby sitters,That's an expensive babysitter.I would guess the teachers union is pretty close to all 3 of the above mention party's.As that may come to no surprise to some intelligent people in this once great City.