Strong Public Schools
Build Strong Communities
A strong public school system is one of the most important investments Newport can make in its long-term economic future. Right now, the city's success rise and fall with tourist season.
We have seasonal jobs, seasonal revenue, and a local economy that is always wondering will this last?
Quality schools offer a way out of that dependency. Businesses looking to relocate or expand don't just consider tax incentives and commercial real estate; they look hard at the school district. Businesses need to attract and retain employees with families. And families are making their housing decisions based on school quality first and everything else second. Many people will pay a premium to live in a town with strong schools, or rule out an otherwise appealing community because the district doesn't measure up. If Newport wants to build a more diverse, resilient, year-round economy with good jobs and stable population growth, investing in its public schools isn't a side issue, it's foundational.
Good schools bring in the working families and employers Newport needs to stand on more than just tourism alone.
When elected to school committee I’ll focus on policy, budget, and accountability, The three responsibilities of the school committee. I will trust our professionals to run our schools.
Policy: I will work on policies that listen to families and the professionals — that’s how our schools improve.
Budget: I will work with Newport City Council to fund our schools — that’s how we give Newporters a more competitive local economy.
Accountability: I will set clear goals with realistic expectations — that’s how we earn the trust of our families and community.
We need to ensure our stakeholders have a seat and voice at the table. Our students need to be seen, heard and valued. After all every decision we make impacts the student experience in our schools.
Diversity is our Strength
Newport has always drawn strength from its many voices, though that history includes hard truths. As a colonial port, Newport welcomed people of many faiths, and it was also a hub of the transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans helped build the city, and their descendants have shaped Newport's culture, faith communities, and civic life ever since. Today, Newport welcomes all families, Navy households, college students, immigrant communities, seasonal workers, and newcomers. The exchange of different experiences and ideas is part of what makes Newport resilient, creative, and connected to the wider world.
Nowhere does this matter more than in our schools. When students learn alongside classmates from different cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds, they build empathy, sharpen their critical thinking, and gain the skills to collaborate across differences, the very skills tomorrow's workplaces and communities demand. Bilingual students bring linguistic gifts that enrich every classroom. Families with diverse traditions and perspectives bring new energy to school events and community partnerships. And when educators reflect and respect the full range of students they serve, every child is more likely to feel seen, supported, and ready to learn.
By embracing diversity as an asset rather than a challenge, Newport can build schools where every student thrives and where our community's future is as bright and varied as its past.
What is the Role of the School Committee?
In RI the school committee acts as the board of directors. We govern, we do not manage. We govern through our three main roles of policy, budget and superintendent accountability. We work as one and give clear doable goals, write policy and ensure our budget reflects our values as a district.