In this Issue
A new school year invites us to begin with intention. It is an opportunity to reflect on what matters most, strengthen the practices that make the greatest difference for students and invest in learning that sustains us throughout the year.
In this issue, we welcome a new PRN cohort, celebrate leaders stepping into new opportunities and share ways to build, restore or sustain your or yopur team’s leadership practice through CLEE’s professional learning. We hope these stories inspire you to start the year with purpose and the confidence that meaningful change grows through continuous learning and collaboration.
Learning in Action
- Introducing our New PRN Cohort!
- Build, Restore and Sustain Your Leadership Practice This Year
- Fall Meeting – Renew Your Purpose and Strengthen Your Practice
Reminders
- CLEE Welcomes a New Board Member
- CLEE Community of Practice
- Facilitator Training
What are your priorities for this school year to strengthen you and your team? Building new skills? Restoring effective practices? Sustaining your momentum?
Introducing our New PRN Cohort!
CLEE welcomes our new cohort of Aspiring Principals into the Principal Residency Network (PRN). These courageous educators are advancing their careers and driving innovation to improve student outcomes. Most are beginning their journey this summer, while some are continuing their extended pathway.
2026-27 PRN Cohort:
1-Year Classic Pathway:
- Amy Lopes, William D’Abate Elementary School
- Cameron St. Germain, The Learning Community Charter School
- Dawn Kapanakis, Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School
- Karey Bouvier, Nathanael Greene Middle School*
- Kathryn Weiner, Elevate Early Learning Center & Elevate Elementary
- Ralph Toribio, Nuestro Mundo Public Charter School
- Sarah Guida, RISE Prep Upper Academy
- Stefani Anderson, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts
- Steven Morse, Highlander Secondary Charter School
Extended Pathway:
- Alexandra Romano, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School (year 1)**
- Bertholyn Alexandre, Achievement First Envision Elementary School (Year 2)
- Cynthia Louis-Dale, Achievement First Envision Elementary School (Year 2)
- David Fraioli, Jr., Reservoir Avenue Elementary School (year 2)**
- Jephte Pierre, Achievement First Providence High School (year 2)
- Laura Elson, James R. D. Oldham School (Year 1)**
- Menalisa Mendes, Achievement First: Providence Academy Middle School (Year 2)
- Monalisa Mendes, Achievement First: Providence Academy Middle School (Year 2)
- Nicole Larkin, Harris Elementary School (Year 2)**
Leader of Record Pathway:
- Vency Beato, MET Justice High School (Year 2)
RIRAPP Pathway:
- Alyssa Shelley, Harry Kizirian Elementary School
- Ana Soares, Legacy High School
- Heather Lamoureux, RISE Prep Upper Academy
- Mirla Cortico Ramirez Wilson, BVP Upper Elementary School
* JWU MEd Concurrent Enrollment
** JWU EdD Concurrent Enrollment
Congratulations to Our 2026-2027 CLEE Board Scholarship Recipients!
We are pleased to recognize Dawn Kapanakis and Amy Lopes as the recipients of the 2026-2027 CLEE Board Scholarship.
The scholarship recognizes aspiring school leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to educational leadership, students, and transformative practice. Applicants’ statements for joining PRN to become transformative, student-centered school principals were evaluated by CLEE’s Board Scholarship Committee.
Congratulations to Dawn and Amy! We look forward to their contributions to the PRN community, students, educators, and schools they serve.
The Principal Residency Network is proud to again offer an additional pathway, Rhode Island Registered Apprenticeship Principal Program (RIRAPP), as a part of the 2026/2027 PRN cohort. RIRAPP was the first registered apprentice principal program in the Northeast and is one of the few programs in the United States. CLEE is excited to announce the following individuals stepping into the role of assistant principal or dean as an apprentice in their schools as they engage in PRN:
Ana Soares, Dean of Students, Legacy High School
Alyssa Shelley, Assistant Principal, Harry Kizirian Elementary School
Heather Lamoureux, Dean of Special Populations, RISE Prep Upper Academy
Mirla Cortico Ramirez Wilson, Dean, BVP Upper Elementary
RIRAPP candidates fulfill all roles and responsibilities of an assistant principal/dean as they complete the PRN under a Registered Apprenticeship Preliminary Certificate. RIRAPP candidates are fully integrated into PRN and transfer learning from the program directly into their role as an administrator.
Do you want to earn Principal Certification in Massachusetts or Rhode Island? PRN stands as one of the first and most distinguished residency-based principal certification programs in the country. Contact us to learn how to join our 27-28 Cohort!
Build, Restore and Sustain Your Leadership Practice This Year
The start of a new school year brings new priorities, limited time and important decisions about where to invest your professional learning resources. Whether you or yopur team are strengthening facilitation skills, reconnecting with colleagues or sustaining strong leadership practices throughout the year, CLEE offers learning experiences that meet you where you and ypur team are.
It can help to slow down, start with inquiry, and ask, “What do I or my team need most right now?”
If you are building new capacity, Facilitator Training develops the skills to lead collaborative meetings that result in stronger decisions and greater impact for students. Participants learn practical strategies they can apply immediately with teams.
If you are looking to restore your energy and reconnect with powerful instructional leadership practices, Fall Meeting provides two days of meaningful learning with colleagues from across the region. Leave with fresh ideas, renewed purpose and practical strategies you can bring back to your school or district.
If you already have a strong foundation and want to maintain momentum, CLEE’s Community of Practice offers ongoing opportunities to collaborate, receive feedback and continue refining your leadership alongside a trusted network of peers.
Each learner and organization has different needs. Some leaders are building new skills. Others need opportunities to reconnect and recharge. Many simply need consistent support to sustain effective practice. We can help you identify the learning experiences that will have the greatest impact for your people while making the most of your time and professional learning budget.
What fits your needs?
| Your Goal | Program |
|---|---|
| (Re)Build leadership capacity | Facilitator Training |
| Restore your practice and reconnect with colleagues | Fall Meeting |
| Maintain momentum through ongoing collaboration | Community of Practice |
Not sure which path is right for you or your team? Contact us to help you identify the best fit based on your goals, timeline and budget.
Fall Meeting – Renew Your Purpose and Strengthen Your Practice
The most meaningful professional learning happens when educators have time and space to learn together, reflect together and reconnect with a shared commitment to students.
This year’s Fall Meeting returns to one of CLEE’s foundational practices: Learning from Student Work. For decades, we have brought educators together to utilize authentic student work to better understand student thinking, strengthen instructional practice and identify opportunities to improve outcomes for students.
This October 8-9 in Norwood, MA, we invite educators to return to this powerful experience. Through breakout sessions, homegroups and student-led experiences, participants will spend two days learning with colleagues, sharing practices and engaging directly with perspectives that keep students at the center of our work.
Rather than a traditional keynote or panel, this year’s Fall Meeting will feature two student-led experiences that elevate student partnership and perspective. These sessions will remind us of the importance of listening closely to students and creating learning environments where their voices shape our understanding of teaching and learning.
For many educators, the most powerful part of this work has always been the opportunity to learn alongside colleagues who are asking the same questions, examining the same challenges and committed to improving learning for students.
Ross Peterson-Veatch, who has attended multiple Fall Meetings, reflects on the lasting impact of coming together with educators to examine practice:
“I found Fall Meetings to be the most energizing and important events of my year. Seeing how educators across the country were improving their own practice for the benefit of every student was inspiring.”
That spirit continues at Fall Meeting today. Whether you are returning to a practice that has shaped your professional journey or experiencing Learning from Student Work for the first time, this gathering offers an opportunity to reconnect, learn from colleagues and leave with new insights and strategies to support students.
Early Bird registration ends September 1. Register today to save your spot and join educators from across the country for two days of collaboration, reflection and learning centered on students.
CLEE Welcomes a New Board Member
Ryan’s professional interests include continuous improvement in teaching & learning, strategic planning and development, coaching, professional development and experiential education. Currently, Ryan is the principal for Warwick Public Schools and has been an educator for 14 years. Ryan holds an M. Ed. from Johnson & Wales University, Bachelor’s degree from RIC, PRN Graduate 2021. Ryan resides in Warwick and enjoys playing tennis, martial arts, and spending time with family and friends.
CLEE’s virtual Community of Practice connects educators and leaders across roles and contexts to learn from peers, exchange focused feedback and strengthen practice through real challenges shared in community.
Implementing High-Quality Curriculum for the Students Who Need It Most
8/19, 9/24, 10/27, 11/10, 2026 – 4-6pm Eastern
We know that having HQCM/HQIM is a starting point, and that successful curriculum implementation requires collective sense-making and ongoing collaboration. Come to this Community of Practice to work through your various implementation dilemmas and get clearer on ways to get impactful results sooner. Open to practitioners at any stage of curriculum implementation.
Scaling what Works for the Students Who Need it Most
1/27, 2/23, 3/24, 4/28, 2027 – 4-6pm Eastern
For those who are interested in scaling and sustaining promising practices in your organization. Many organizations struggle with initiative overload and are seeking ways to streamline, align, and keep the main thing the main thing. Come to this Community of Practice to share what’s working, what can use more eyes/ears/minds, and leave with some clear next steps you can implement right away.
Facilitator Training builds your capacity to lead with purpose and to strengthen collaboration among colleagues. You will sharpen facilitation skills and practice using collaborative tools to share leadership, expand perspectives and generate improvements centered on student impact.
Fall Cohort
9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12/2026
All Sessions are 1-4pm (Eastern)
Spring Cohort
2/2, 2/25, 3/4, 3/25, 4/6, 4/29, 5/13, 5/27, 2027
All Sessions are 1-4pm (Eastern)
