As many of you know, NES Principal Gail Dandurand has accepted a wonderful position within the school district as Director of Curriculum. Her more than 10 years as NES principal and 2 years of Assistant Principal before that will help her make an even bigger impact within all three schools in our town.
As we welcome Mrs. Dandurand into this new role, we also wish our former Director of Curriculum, Mike Convery, a bittersweet farewell as he embarks on a new adventure as Superintendent of Schools on Block Island. Mike and his team have truly enhanced student learning here in Narragansett, especially our growing CTE pathways and the many students who benefit from the programs each year.
Our curriculum will transform even more under the leadership of Mrs. Dandurand as she brings to the team not only an understanding of our district and a vast knowledge of regular and special education, but also her undergraduate studies in special education from Salve Regina University, a Master's in Elementary Education from URI, a Master's in Educational Leadership from RIC, and state certification for the role of Director of Curriculum. She also brings many years of success through launching new initiatives and programs such as Lucy Calkins writing workshops, the roll out of PBIS and RTI, a new playground, and the school's first foreign language offering in 2012 with the support of the Narragansett Education Foundation. Principal Dandurand also received the R.I. First Year Principal Award in 2009.
Mrs. Dandurand will remain at the school throughout the month of July to ensure the transition into fall is smooth and the growth of the school and its initiatives continue on an upward trend. We invite you to read a heartfelt note from Principal Dandurand below on her time at NES and the many families who have made her career there an exciting and impactful one.