Alexis Meyer

K-12 Administrator

Alexis L. Meyer is an accomplished and dedicated servant leader with over 27 years of experience as an educator and educational leader, retiring in July of 2022 as Superintendent of Schools in East Greenwich, RI.  Alexis’ vast experience started with serving as a paraeducator at Archie R. Cole Junior High School.  She went on to teach social studies and serve as assistant principal and principal at Archie R. Cole Middle School.   She led the building of a new middle school and the addition of Grade 6 to the middle school.   She served as a Leadership Fellow for the Rhode Island Department of Education, helping to facilitate the development of the new Rhode Island Standards for Educational Leaders (RISEL).    Ms. Meyer completed the NISL Executive Development Program and is a NISL-trained Facilitator. 

She then served as Director of Teaching and Learning and Superintendent of Schools for East Greenwich Public Schools.   For many years, she was a member of the  RI Association of School Principals  (RIASP). She served on the Board of Directors in several capacities, including RI Coordinator for the  National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and President-elect.

Alexis Meyer earned a BA from the University of Rhode Island M.ed in Administration from Providence College.

Daniel holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management from Northeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Providence College. He has over 25 years of experience in education and has made significant contributions as both an educator and a leader.

Daniel has served as an Associate Teaching Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Rhode Island and previously as the Principal of Smithfield High School. During his tenure there, he successfully implemented sustainable change initiatives that profoundly transformed the school’s learning culture.

His leadership extends to national roles, having served as the president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) during the 2017-2018 school year, as well as a five-year term on the NASSP Board of Directors. Daniel’s diverse background includes positions as a high school assistant principal, special education teacher at both the high school and middle school levels, and a middle school math and science teacher. In recognition of his outstanding leadership, he was named the Rhode Island Secondary Principal of the Year in 2012.

Cheri worked as a principal coach at the inception of RIASP’s Principal Coaching Program and now serves as the President of RIASP. With over 37 years of experience in education, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. 

Cheri spent 13 years as an elementary principal, during which she led her Title I school to achieve a four-star rating and was recognized as an "Inspiring RI School" by the Providence Journal, reflecting her belief that “all students can” succeed. In addition to her principalship, she has taught elementary, middle, and high school students, worked as a Literacy Specialist, and holds certification from the National Institute of School Leadership. She is also a standing member of the Rhode Island Certification Policy Advisory Board.

Dedicated to continuous improvement, Cheri prioritizes connecting with colleagues across the state to enhance her practice. Her contributions to RIASP include serving on the Board as an Elementary Director and as the State and Federal Relations Coordinator.

Mary has over 30 years of experience in education, beginning her academic journey at Boston University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. She continued her studies at Smith College, obtaining a Master of Education (M.Ed.), and later completed her Ph.D. through a collaborative program between the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.

Throughout her career, Mary has worked as an educator in both Rhode Island and Connecticut, bringing a wealth of experience in special education to her role as a RIASP Principal Coach. Her diverse background includes positions as a Principal, Director of Support Services, Behavioral Specialist, and Classroom Teacher, equipping her with the knowledge and skills to support school leaders effectively.

Mary understands the challenges that come with the essential role of being a principal, and she hopes to help support new and experienced principals so that they feel empowered to take on anything. 

Jared brings over 25 years of diverse experience in education, having served as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Special Education Teacher, Adapted Physical Education Teacher, and Physical Education Teacher. He is dedicated to collaborating with school leaders to enhance school culture and foster positive student relations.

As a RIASP Principal Coach, Jared's goal is to support new Principals in navigating the evolving landscape of school leadership through guidance, reflection, and adaptability.

He holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from Cambridge University, a Certification in Educational Leadership from Providence College, and a Coaching Certification in Blended and Personalized Learning from Roger Williams University. Additionally, Jared earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science from the University of Rhode Island.

In recognition of his impactful leadership, Jared was honored with the Newport Living and Lifestyles Influencer Award in 2021, acknowledging his commitment to a "students first" approach during his tenure as Principal of Rogers High School.

Tara McAuliffe has served as an Elementary level principal for over twenty years. She has dedicated much of her career to the support, advocacy and development of School Leaders. Tara has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), as well as a board member and Past President of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals (RIASP). She believes school leaders need to develop a school culture that combines rigorous academics with strong relationships to ensure high achievement for every student. She holds a BS from Northeastern University and an MEd from Rhode Island College.

Allison brings over 18 years of educational experience, having worked in schools across both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Her diverse roles include Principal, Assistant Principal, Special Education Teacher, and Teacher Assistant. 

As a Principal Coach for RIASP, her mission is to empower both new and experienced principals to become impactful leaders who foster thriving educational environments. This involves supporting leaders in identifying areas for improvement and developing skills to achieve goals that better serve the needs of the school community, students, and teachers.

Allison holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maine and a Master of Science in Education from Simmons College. She furthered her educational journey by completing a Postmasters Licensure Program in Educational Leadership at Bridgewater State University. Allison is licensed as a Principal/Assistant Principal in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is also a proud graduate of the National Institute of School Leaders Program (NISL) in 2023.

Danny Smith has been an educator for 29 years. He has a BA in History with minors in Math, Political Science and Philosophy from Rhode Island College, a MA from University of New Mexico (Curriculum and Instruction in Multi-Cultural Teacher Education) and a MA from Western New Mexico University (Educational Leadership). Danny has served in the US Peace Corps in Malawi as a secondary math and history teacher. He then went on to teach in Gallup, New Mexico as well as a serve as school principal, where most of his students were Navajo or Mexican-American. While working Malawi and New Mexico, helping people who were often marginalized, Danny solidified his values of equity and a belief in the power of public education. In 2010, he returned to RI as a MS AP in Coventry. In 2013, he was selected as a fellow in the NYC Leadership Academy. Through his internships in Central Falls and Pawtucket, he developed additional skills to continue his work to improve systems that engage with under-served children. After his time with NYCLA, he joined the Providence School District as an elementary principal where he has worked for six years, most recently at Harry Kizirian Elementary. 

Deb DiBiase has been an educator for 27 years as a mathematics teacher, Mathematics Coach, Curriculum Coordinator, and in 2009 she was selected by the RI Department of Education to be a Secondary-Redesign-Fellow, conducting professional development workshops supporting districts in their implementation of Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements. She holds a BA in Secondary Mathematics from Rhode Island College, a Masters in mathematics from Providence College, a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University, and has been an administrator for 14 years.

Deb proudly led Mt. Hope High School for eight years as Principal after serving as Assistant Principal for two years, and is currently the Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for Bristol Warren Regional Schools. She was formerly Director of Instruction at Segue Institute in Central Falls, and Principal at Jamestown Middle School, both for two years. She has facilitated professional learning in multiple districts and presented at conferences on topics such as Empowering Teachers and Students. She was named Rhode Island Secondary Principal of the Year in 2021. Deb loves her job and continues to cultivate an environment where teachers, students, families and the community work together ensuring all students are ready for college, career and life; where school is not a place, but a community where we focus on the whole child; where every student is inspired to learn, and where students and adults are safe to innovate, problem solve, and aspire to make the world a better place. 

Courtney is an experienced educator with over 25 years in the field. Her diverse roles include Principal, Assistant Principal, Elementary ESL Specialist, ESL Teacher, and Reading Coach. In 2020, she was honored as a National Distinguished Principal and has been a valued member of RIASP, serving as a Principal Coach for more than four years. Additionally, she mentors aspiring principals at Providence College and has participated in the Principal Residency Network program with CLEE. In 2021, Courtney was recognized in the Boston Globe for her outstanding SurveyWorks results related to school culture and climate among staff, students, and families.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rollins College, a Master’s in Administration, and a Superintendent Certification from Providence College, as well as an ESL Certification from Rhode Island College. As a Principal Coach, Courtney is committed to providing a supportive environment where she can listen, share successes and challenges, and help principals navigate the complexities of their rewarding roles.

Arzinia Gill is a district leader and a former middle school principal in Providence, RI. As an urban school principal, she served close to 1000 students, largely BIPOC of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Central American cultural descent. She herself is multilingual with literacy in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi. Arzinia embarked upon a school transformation effort to boost student engagement and create a positive school culture in 2014 when she first took over as the principal. She is a former English teacher and ELA instructional coach/specialist, District Assistance Team (DAT).

Arzinia grew up in India and has a BA (Hon) English Literature from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, India, B.Ed. from Isabella Thoburn College, India, an MA in Literature from Punjab University, India. She is a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University, MA. Arzinia graduated from the district’s aspiring principals’ program, part of the Wallace Foundation leadership initiative, and graduated with a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Rhode Island. She has taught ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in London, England prior to her educational career in Rhode Island in 2002. As part of the school transformation effort, she redesigned her school into three learning communities. She has presented on personalized learning and school transformation efforts at various national events such as the Council of Great City Schools, Mass Cue, Tech & Learning and Blended and Personalized Learning conferences. She graduated from the National Institute for School Leaders (NISL), Executive Development program, as well as Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) at Harvard University. Arzinia believes that every child can learn and be successful in the right learning environment.

A dedicated public learner, Liz McGuire, is the principal of Matunuck Elementary School in South Kingstown.  She began her career working in Woonsocket, RI where she was a Middle School Science Teacher.  Liz took on various leadership roles as an instructor for RI Teaching Fellows and then working with beginning teachers as a RIDE Induction Coach. This work taught her the significance of continual growth and reflection and sparked her desire to become a building administrator.  Liz co-leads EdCamp RI across the state each year and has just completed the National Institute of School Leadership (NISL). She believes in strengthening school leadership to produce outcomes for ALL students.  As a coach, Liz is solutions based and committed to supporting educational leaders find joy, results and continuous improvement.

Buddy Comet has been a school administrator in Rhode Island for the past six years and has led schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels. In his ninth year of teaching in West Warwick, he left the classroom to join the newly formed Induction team at the Rhode Island Department of Education. For over two years, he served as an Induction Coach to new teachers throughout our state. In his third year as a state level coach, he joined the leadership team at Central Falls High School as Dean of Pedagogy.  After two years leading teacher development in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning at Central Falls High School, he stepped up to lead redesign efforts at Calcutt Middle School. He is currently serving as Principal of Ella Risk School, also in Central Falls. Buddy is a strong advocate for equity, empowerment and excellence, and believes those values can be accomplished through designing and implementing systems that lead to them. He lives and works by the mantra, “Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets.”  His coaching goal is to empower leaders to see themselves as agents of change and to help them draw on their own courage to act in accordance with that view.

Amy earned her Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island and brings over 23 years of experience in the field of education. She has served as a Principal and Assistant Principal for 9 years, leading schools from Pre-K to 12th grade, and has worked as a Research and Evaluation Specialist in higher education. Her extensive experience spans several school districts across Rhode Island, including Central Falls, Providence, Johnston, and North Smithfield.

In addition to her administrative roles, Amy has taught as an adjunct professor, offering courses such as "The Psychology of Learning" and "Educational Statistics" in the joint URI-RIC Doctoral Program. Her expertise in grant writing, program design, and data collection and analysis has greatly informed her leadership practice.

Amy believes in the power of building trusting relationships with students, families, and staff, as well as the importance of cultivating a strong network of community partnerships. Having navigated the rewards and challenges of being a principal herself, she is dedicated to supporting other principals in developing their leadership skills, problem-solving, and driving positive change within their schools. Amy has also served as a mentor for aspiring principals at Providence College and participated in the Principal Residency Network program with CLEE.

Chris began my teaching career in Needham, Massachusetts as a high school science teacher before pursuing his degree in administration and serving as Assistant Principal at Portsmouth High School. As Assistant Principal, he learned the importance of relationships and partnering with families to support all students. After serving in Portsmouth, Chris became Principal of Tiverton High School for five years. As principal of Tiverton High School he focused on ensuring every student had a plan, was supported, and that teachers had time to work together to review assessment results to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Chris served a brief year as Director of Teaching, Learning and Professional Development in Newport where he had the opportunity of joining a district-level team and working to unite teachers around a clear vision of success for all students. Currently he is the Principal of Barrington High School and enjoys serving in the community he resides in and continuing the work of ensuring all students graduate and are college and career ready.  When not working with students and teachers in school, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife (Alison), their two children and dog Henry, reading, and spending time outdoors. 

With over 30 years of experience in education, Edie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as a Principal Coach. She has served as both a classroom teacher and a school Principal, and she currently works as a substitute principal and educator in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Edie's leadership experience includes serving as the Principal of Fishing Cove School in North Kingstown and Frenchtown School in East Greenwich. Prior to that, she spent a decade leading two K-6 schools in Vermont, where she gained valuable insights into the state's unique school funding structures and school board configurations.

She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Rhode Island College and is a graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute through the Snelling Center for Government. In 2021, Edie enhanced her skills with specialized coaching training at the Connecticut Center for School Change. Her combination of coaching training and extensive experience as a school leader makes her an exceptional asset to our principal coaching program.

What sets Edie apart as a RIASP principal coach is her exceptional active listening skills. She is dedicated to supporting and guiding principals as they embrace their leadership roles, empowering them to develop their own effective solutions.

Brooke is a dedicated educator and school leader with over 29 years of experience in Rhode Island's educational landscape. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Relations from Syracuse University, as well as a Master of Education in Secondary Administration and Teaching Certification from Providence College. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she was named the Rhode Island Assistant Principal of the Year in 2014.

Throughout her career, Brooke has served as a Principal, Assistant Principal, and Spanish Language Teacher, bringing a wealth of experience to her roles. As a RIASP Principal Coach, she is committed to helping principals enhance their problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, while also supporting them in creating positive school cultures that foster student achievement. Her passion for education and leadership makes her an invaluable resource for school leaders in their professional growth.

Michelle Depot has been in the educational field for 26 years. She was a teacher in the Pawtucket School Department for 19 years. While a teacher, Michelle served as a mentor to new teachers, was a peer evaluator, and the co - chair of numerous school improvement teams. Michelle served on numerous curriculum committees within the Pawtucket School Department, and was Pawtucket’s Teacher of the Year in 2013. Michelle has been an Elementary Principal for the last 7 years. She has been the principal of John Brown Francis Elementary, in Warwick RI, Curvin McCabe Elementary  and currently at Potter-Burns Elementary in Pawtucket. Joanne Rooney said, “ The fundamental pillars of school leadership are relationships; nothing substitutes for building and nurturing them”. Michelle shares in this belief. In order to have a great school, you must have a great school culture, and that starts with relationships. When you have good relationships, you can have those difficult and challenging conversations that lead to change in a building. Michelle resides in Pawtucket with her husband Steven, and their 2 sons, Douglas and Dylan. As a family, they love to travel to Disney, watch Star Wars, and Marvel movies. They are avid fans of the Boston sports teams (Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics). 

Susan Craven is a high school principal in Tiverton Rhode Island. She has worked in the field of education for 24 years as a classroom teacher, middle school principal, district literacy coach, and now high school principal. Sue also serves on the Rhode Island

Interscholastic League Principal Council on Athletics, was a union president for 10 years, and is a certified paralegal. Sue uses the skills acquired throughout her career to navigate the education

system and build better opportunities for students so they receive an educational experience that meets their personal needs. As an instructional leader, Sue has significant training in the development and implementation of Professional Learning Communities, Portrait of a Graduate, curriculum development and alignment, teacher evaluation, action planning, and analysis of assessment data. She also has

negotiated several union contracts so Sue is very familiar with contract language, interpretation, and the grievance process. Sue has a BA degree in English and a M.ed degree in k-12 administration from Rhode Island College. She is currently certified as a Superintendent, k-12 building administrator, 1-6 elementary educator, and is middle school endorsed in English.  

Monique is an accomplished educator with over 34 years of experience in the Central Falls and Pawtucket school districts. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including Principal, Assistant Principal, Teacher, and Coach. Monique is well-versed in the Rhode Island evaluation model and has extensive experience developing written school improvement plans.

As a RIASP Principal Coach, Monique emphasizes the importance of active listening, which she considers one of her key strengths in fostering effective partnerships. She is dedicated to supporting school leaders in their professional growth.

Monique holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Queen's University, a Master of Arts in French Literature from the University of Rhode Island, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. Her diverse background and commitment to education make her a valuable asset to the RIASP coaching team.

As a Principal Coach, Mary Anne brings over 30 years of diverse experience in education. Her extensive background includes roles as an Elementary Principal, Special Education Director, and Teacher. She has collaborated with the Public Education and Business Coalition in Denver, Colorado, focusing on teacher feedback and fostering cultures of learning in schools. Additionally, she is trained in Cognitive Coaching, which enhances her approach to leadership development.

Mary Anne earned her Bachelor's degree in Educational Studies from the State University of New York/Empire State College. She then pursued her Master's degrees in Literacy/Reading and Advanced Studies in School Administration at the State University of New York/Cortland.

Passionate about the growth of school leaders, Mary Anne believes that principals deserve effective and actionable feedback. She is committed to creating a safe environment that promotes curiosity and discovery, empowering principals to set goals and engage in their own professional development. Her goal is to facilitate and support this learning journey for all principals.

Melissa is entering her 20th year working in the field of education. She has worked as a Special Education Teacher, Multilingual Learner Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. She has worked in Woonsocket and Barrington Rhode, Rhode Island and is an active member of the RI Teachers of English Language Learners (RI-TELL) Coordinating Council and has significant experience working with diverse student populations.

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Rhode Island College, followed by a Master’s degree in Urban and Multicultural Special Education. She also has an Administration Certification from the Center for Learning and Educational Equity and a Multilingual Learner Specialist Certification from Rhode Island College.

A firm believer in the importance of collaboration, Melissa understands that effective leadership is built on mutual support. She emphasizes the value of having a thought partner to engage in honest problem-solving, brainstorming, and collaboration, which she sees as essential to achieving success in education.

Dan Warner was born in Newport Rhode Island and is a graduate of Rogers High School. He received his A BS in Social Studies Education from The Pennsylvania State University and his Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. Dan currently serves as the Principal of The Block Island School after retiring from  a 24 year career as Principal of Narragansett High School. Dan also serves as the Chair of the Principals Committee on Athletics for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and is a ten-year member of The Headmasters Association.  Dan began his career as a teacher and athletic director at The University of Northern Colorado Laboratory School, a K-12 school in Greeley Colorado. Dan lives with his wife Lisa, and son Eamon, in Kingston Rhode Island 

Cassandra is an accomplished educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience in Rhode Island. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Principal Support for the Providence Public School District, where she collaborates with the Senior Director of Principal Supports to implement a comprehensive training program, providing essential tools and resources for the district's principals.

Before taking on her current role, Cassandra was an Instructional Support Leader, where she focused on coaching and professional development for site-based leaders. Her experience also includes serving as an Assistant Principal at both Carl G. Lauro Elementary School and Governor Christopher DelSesto Middle School. In these positions, she supported the principals in overseeing the entire school program, establishing high expectations for student achievement, fostering a positive school climate, leveraging research and data to drive initiatives, and developing a high-performing staff and leadership team to fulfill the schools' vision and goals.

As a RIASP Principal Coach, Cassandra brings a wealth of skills and experience, making her a valuable thought partner dedicated to supporting school leaders in every possible way.

Dr. Sabrina Antonelli started in education in 2003. Dr. Antonelli spent her first 13 years in Providence Public Schools. She started her career as a middle school mathematics teacher at Oliver Hazard Perry and then Delsesto Middle School. She received training early on through the Math Matters program and the May Institute to coach teachers on math instruction and behavior management as well as become a model classroom. Dr. Antonelli was a Math Teacher Leader for two years before taking on the role of Math Instructional Coach at William D'Abate Elementary School. While a Math Instructional Coach and Aspiring Principal Dr. Antonelli led a partnership with Roger Williams University focused on teaching and coaching ESL and bilingual elementary teachers best instructional strategies for teaching mathematics to second language learners. She participated on several mathematics curriculum and assessment writing teams. With experience as a math teacher, department head, and instructional coach, Dr. Sabrina Antonelli was well-prepared to take on the role of building-wide instructional leader when she became a principal seven years ago for Warwick Public Schools. She survived school consolidations after her first two years as principal of Randall Holden Elementary School. Now principal of Norwood Elementary School since 2018, Dr. Antonelli is well versed in the art of delivering compassionate, actionable feedback and helping struggling teachers find their way back to their purpose as educators. These talents permeate her approach to continuous professional development, which includes in-class coaching, modeling, training, and administrative classroom coverage to facilitate peer learning. Quality guidance and support also drives Dr. Antonelli’s approach to distributed leadership, as she aims to empower the strengths of others by providing the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to improve practice and reach collective school goals. The fruits of this labor include a data-literate professional culture that seeks to expand learning opportunities for all students and bring families into the learning process in meaningful ways, including through initiatives like themed STEM, Literacy, and Math nights. Attuned to the broader social, emotional, and material needs that shape academic outcomes, Dr. Antonelli is committed to meeting the basic needs of the school’s population through accessible, volunteer-driven food and health access programs. Norwood School is a Title I school with MLL Programming and a range of special education programming. Norwood School is a co-taught school K-5 as well as providing resource support. Norwood school also has a Primary and Intermediate severe and profound program. In 2023, she was named RIASP Elementary Principal of the Year and NAESP National Distinguished Principal. Dr. Antonelli completed the NISL (National Institute for School Leaders) Educator Development Program in 2019. She completed the Principal Residency Program through CLEE (Center for Leadership and Educational Equity). She holds an Ed.D. from Johnson and Wales University. Dr. Antonelli was accepted as one out of ten urban middle school teachers throughout the state to receive a full scholarship to Brown University through a Call to Lead program from the offices of the Education Alliance. She holds a M.A. from Brown University in ESL and Cross Cultural Studies. Dr. Antonelli holds a B.A. from Rhode Island College in Elementary Education with a Math Major Concentration. She also completed a Middle School Endorsement Program at Rhode Island College. Dr. Antonelli is a member of NCTM, ASCD, RIASP and Critical Friends Networks. She is also a professor and learning guide for the ESL Teacher Certification Program at Roger Williams University College since 2018. Dr. Antonelli holds RI certifications in Elementary Education, Middle Level Mathematics, Secondary Mathematics, ESL K-8, Secondary Content ESL, Building Level Administrator, Superintendent.