‘Patriot’ Cote looks to work with kids again

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 6/18/15

“Once a Patriot, always a Patriot,” and the same applies to Principal Marie Cote as she steps down as Pilgrim High School at the end of this school year.

Cote first announced her resignation …

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‘Patriot’ Cote looks to work with kids again

Posted

“Once a Patriot, always a Patriot,” and the same applies to Principal Marie Cote as she steps down as Pilgrim High School at the end of this school year.

Cote first announced her resignation a few weeks ago at the city’s budget hearings, saying she could not do “the job to her satisfaction.” She shared a story of having to sew curtains herself because the funds just weren’t there for repairs.

In an interview last Tuesday morning, Cote said that when schools go level funded for years, like they have in Warwick, it ends “on the backs” of students, teachers and administrators.

“Our students shouldn’t have to fund-raise for everything they want to do as a Patriot,” Cote said.

More so than issues of finances, Cote said she is stepping down as principal because she wants to reconnect with students.

Cote started as a freshman at Pilgrim in 1973 and graduated in 1977. She returned to teach in 1986, but when her aspirations went above just teaching she served as a department head at Toll Gate and an assistant principal before returning to Pilgrim in 2002 as an assistant principal.

“I loved being a Patriot. I loved growing up here in Warwick,” Cote said.

Four years ago she was named principal and now just as the senior class is moving on, so is she.

“I’m a bit in the same position as the graduates, finding a new way in the world for ourselves,” Cote said.

She said that just like she told her seniors, change is good as long as you embrace it positively.

Cote hopes she will be able to continue working for the Warwick school system and would love to be the assistant principal of Pilgrim again.

“I would hate to have to say goodbye to Pilgrim completely; I really bleed black and white. I’m a Patriot through and through,” Cote said.

She said she would be happy working at any of the schools because “kids are kids,” but would miss Pilgrim.

Being a principal just isn’t what Cote had expected it to be.

“I know I can do the job, but all the requirements on administrators takes you further away from the kids,” she said.

She said sometimes she is at the school until 7 p.m. and tries to make it to every after-school event, but instead of truly interacting with and “enjoying the students” she’s just “exhausted.” She misses the daily interaction with students and “truly” knowing every single one of them and what they need.

After her four years she hopes there are two things she has instilled in her students, “Once a Patriot, always a Patriot,” and “We are bigger than ourselves.”

She said whether at school or in the community, students are never alone and should pay it forward to see “what they can do for the next person.”

“If we don’t help these students become young adults of character what have we done?” she said.

Cote said what she has learned in her time at Pilgrim she can take with her anywhere, and she knows her work is not done yet.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    She knew when to get out before they overcrowded the school with riff and raff.

    Thursday, June 18, 2015 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Clearly a quality person. You just have to wonder why a system that spends $18,000 per student can't afford curtains. The fact that she made them, herself, speaks volumes.

    Friday, June 19, 2015 Report this