“I live by the motto, I say what I do and I do what I say,” Philip Thornton, new superintendent for Warwick Public Schools, said yesterday, his first official day in his new position.

Thornton spent his first day touring schools, and said a lot of his first week as superintendent will be getting to know “the new territory”, continuing to visit schools and meeting with teachers and principals. This way he believes he can come to understand the “idiosyncrasies” of each school, their concerns moving forward and what each needs.

“My phone is my office, so I’m not tied to a desk. I can make sure to be out there and can travel quite a bit around the district. I can see what’s happening and talk to students, teachers, and principals,” he said.

So far, Thornton believes he has been well received by Warwick, getting an “overwhelmingly enthusiastic response” from teachers and principals during his tours yesterday.

He said, “I think people are ready for movement and positive change in this district.”

Thornton’s very first stop yesterday was Robertson Elementary and Principal Brian Dillon agreed that teachers appear optimistic about having a new superintendent.

Although there is a lot of work ahead, Dillon said the district is ready to move forward. He believes that Thornton has the experience and energy Warwick Public Schools need.

“I hope he sticks around for a while,” Dillon joked.

Lynn Dambruch, director of elementary education, said that Thornton would help to bring some consistency to the district by being a visible administrator and being a “true partner” to the city.

“Together we can all work as a team and focus on improving student achievement across the board,” she said.

Thornton talks of wanting to repair the relationship between the school district and the city. He hopes to meet regularly with both Mayor and City Council to discuss concerns facing the district as well as just updates to what’s going on.

“I’m trying to strengthen relationships and I don’t think you can do that behind a screen or a phone,” Thornton said. “People want to know what’s going on in the schools and I want to let city leaders know what’s happening. I don’t know if that’s happened in the past,” he said.

Avedisian, who accompanied Thornton’s tour of schools, said that so far the communication between himself and Thornton has been positive. Avedisian believes Thornton will continue being accessible not only to him, but also to teachers, parents and principals.

“I don’t think there will be a shroud over the administration,” Avedisian said. “Thornton will be open to public input; he will be able to explain why and how decisions are made and that will go a long way.”

Avedisian has seen four superintendents as mayor and hopes that with this level of communication the district will see the teamwork and success seen during Robert J. Shapiro’s time as superintendent.

He said, “We want to start this as a united team and I think Thornton sees the benefit of that.”

Thornton said schools are the biggest part of any city and often are the largest part of the budget as well and city administration, the city council and residents want to know their funds are being used properly.

“For people to invest in schools they want to see firsthand the benefit for students,” Thornton said.

While serving in Cumberland, Thornton saw the purchase of Chromebooks and had people come into the schools to see students using the technology.

“This is what you helped to buy and this is how it’s being used,” Thornton said. “I think it helps people connect the budget with the reality of the students and that’s powerful.”

Having been in and seeing success in two other districts prior to coming to Warwick, Thornton believes he brings “an outside perspective and experience” to the position. He has seen what has and hasn’t been effective in the schools and can work to make “positive change.”

Some of his more pressing concerns now as superintendent are the consolidation of schools and the mediation of the teachers’ contract.

He said during his initial tour of schools he saw teachers doing a lot of good. He sees the contract and day-to-day operations as separate things and believes that teachers and administrators can continue to have “great interactions with one another”.

“I think at this point both sides would like to see a contract settled,” Thornton said.

Similarly, he wants to mediate the opinions of consolidation, so that people can understand its time to have schools mirror the student population.

After the more immediate concerns are addressed Thornton would like to improve athletic complexes for Warwick, a concern he heard from many teachers on his tour. He would also like to bring either team or intramural sports to the middle school level.

“Sports are important,” Thornton said. “They are outlets for students and foster self confidence. There are so many positive things about sports besides the wellness factor.

He would also like to improve schools, to ensure every room is a “welcoming, clean, and safe space” for students to learn.

When he enters a school or classroom, he says he does an “environmental scan,” to see if it benefits student learning.

When he entered Robertson, Thornton immediately asked Dillon if the heat and AC worked properly and discussed which doors could and couldn’t be locked from the inside in case of an intruder.

At Winman Junior High School he talked with custodian Steve Garvey who working to get the heat to work in the art studio. Thornton talks about the importance of space whether it be a home or a learning environment.

“There are a lot of things happening her,” he said near the end of his Winman tour, “and the message isn’t getting out.” Tornton said much of the news about Warwick schools has been focused on the negative when, in fact, a lot that is positive is happening.

This week Thornton will continue touring schools, attempting to visit each throughout the week. He is happy to begin his new position and looks forward to working with teachers, the city and parents.