By JOHN HOWELL Superintendent of Schools Philip Thornton has a new top-tier team that is getting rave reviews from the School Committee and the Warwick Teachers Union with expectations of moving the district forward and restoring the prominence of
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Superintendent of Schools Philip Thornton has a new top-tier team that is getting rave reviews from the School Committee and the Warwick Teachers Union with expectations of moving the district forward and restoring the prominence of Warwick schools.
On Tuesday night, the committee unanimously named Lynn Dambruch, who got her start in the system 37 years ago as a teacher at John Greene School, as assistant superintendent and William McCaffrey as director of secondary education. McCaffrey is a 24-year veteran of the system and has served as director of the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center for the past 12 years.
Karen Bachus, committee chair, said Thornton, Dambruch and McCaffrey would give the district a “team approach.” She sees McCaffrey and Dambruch as covering for each other.
“It’s time to move things and bring [the district] back,” she said.
Darlene Netcoh is excited to have administrators who know the system and she believes they are capable of making “the district run more smoothly.” Netcoh joined a group that huddled around the pair to congratulate them at the end of the meeting.
The action comes barely a month after the committee shelved Thornton’s proposal to create an assistant superintendent in place of filling the post of director of secondary education, which opened when Robert Littlefield left the district. At the time, Netcoh was critical of the fact the change would come in the middle of the academic year. Committee members balked at the plan and Bachus suggested it could be revisited at a later date.
In the interim, Dambruch, who has been director of elementary education for the past six years, assumed the task of filling the jobs of both elementary and secondary directors.
Thornton said the administrative model, common to many districts, has shown to increase the focus on teaching and learning. The department’s attorney will draft contracts for the two. The rate of pay was not disclosed.
As the result of “breakage,” new hires starting at a lower rate than the people they are replacing and vacancies, Thornton said the reconfiguration of staff has a neutral effect on the current budget.
Dambruch, who works seven days a week on school matters, believes it’s important to always be positive. She is excited by the ongoing visionary look at the city’s schools being done by consultant Frank Locker as the committee looks at the options of building a new high school or extensively improving the two the city has. An option also under review is a single high school with two campuses.
Dambruch said she looks forward to moving the district forward with 21st century learning spaces that emphasize working collaboratively.
Dambruch said department directors are focused on “really high-quality teaching and learning in the city. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we have more work to do.”
McCaffrey sees his immediate task as addressing the recommendations the New England Association of Schools and Colleges made in reaccrediting both high schools. His aim is to make the “best possible secondary schools in the state. We have very talented teachers and administrators in the district; we are very fortunate.”
McCaffrey describes his predecessors at the WACTC, James DeLuca and Joseph Crowley, as mentors “who opened my eyes to the importance of working with people inside and outside the district.”
McCaffrey, the son of the late Eugene McCaffrey, former mayor of Warwick, is the father of three young children. The family lives in Scituate to be close to his wife’s mother.
A graduate of Rhode Island College, he went on to earn degrees at Providence College and Johnson & Wales in addition to multiple certifications and licenses. He started with Warwick schools in 2005 as assistant principal at Warwick Veterans High School and was named director at the WACTC in July 2008.
“The school department has given me a lot of opportunity to educate myself,” he said. “It’s a great place to work.”
McCaffrey has an impressive record of school initiatives and grants to his name. He has been successful in winning 45 grants totaling $6.6 million for the district since 2008.
McCaffrey applied for the position of superintendent following the turbulent period when Peter Horoschak was forced out and Richard D’Agostino stepped into the job only to resign in the wake of the arrest of a Gorton teacher for sexual assault of a student.
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Jsimmy230
State of Nepotism..... Any relation to Asst AG Dambruch? McCaffrey is listed, and a known political hack.
Nepotism SEWERS in ALL City, State, and Federal levels. And people wo still wonder why all 3 Branches of OUR GOVERNMENT are NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE.
AMAZING!
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Report this
CharlieB
I wanted to respond to Mr. Simoneau's comments, specifically as they apply to Lynn Dambruch. First of all, I have no idea whether she is related to Asst AG Dambruch. What I do know is that perhaps no one in the entire school system is more qualified for this position then Ms. Dambruch. I got to know her when I was on the school committee in the late 90's. At that time, after a stellar career as a teacher at John Greene School, she became the principal at Robinson School. The turnaround there was remarkable. She created a environment where teachers, parents, and children worked together to make the school one of the best around. What she was not able to create through financial means, she created by working harder than any principal we had. Her school community raved about her performance. She was rightly promoted to Director of Secondary Ed upon the retirement of Mr. Bushel. She has taken on additional duties as Director of Secondary Ed, rolls previously filled by two people. She is a tireless advocate for learning and perhaps no promotion was more deserving that this one. I wish her the best in her new position.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
For anyone interested, please ask Johnny Hypocrite how many members of the Simoneau family are currently or retired members of the Providence Police Department and Providence Fire Department.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
Charlie B
How are the tests scores looking in Warwick .... overpaid idiots, teaching Idiots!
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
Looks like Johnny Hypocrite is too embarrassed to answer the question.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
I'll answer your questions when you stop hiding behind ALL your fake names COWARD !
Amazing how you can read that now dozens of times, and still don't understand. Must be a Warwick School System graduate.
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Jessica
John your kids grew up in warwick and graduated from warwick schools, did they not? At least the ones who didnt drop out anyway...
You have so much to say about so many people. Im curious how you feel about grown men who have to be taken to court and forced to support their own children? Have you raised anyone that would do something like that John?
Friday, March 6, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
You want to talk about nepotism, here's a list of Simoneau family members either working for or retired from the city of Providence:
John Simoneau-Providence Police
Kathleen Simoneau-Providence Police
Dennis Simoneau-Providence Police
Helen Simoneau-Providence Police
Derek Simoneau-Providence Fire
Butch Simoneau-Providence Fire
Ken Simoneau-Providence Police
Jason Simoneau-Providence Police
How do you spell "hypocrite "?-J-O-H-N-N-Y P-A-J-A-M-A-S
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
I don't know Helen. We didn't create the STATE OF NEPOTISM .....
We were forced to use the system that was setup by SCUMBAG POLITICIANS, that's why my opinion is based on experience.
Sounds like FAT WASTE PRODUCT Bill, from Oakland Beach, is jealous but still a COWARD that is afraid to use his real name!
You lose. Now go away and come see me when you grow a set.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
DannyHall82
John, Robinson School is actually one of the top performing schools in the city. I’m positive that Reading and Math levels are over 50%. Now is 50% where we should be? No. Considering other schools in the area are at 18% she must have been responsible for the turn around in that School. Not here to start throwing bombs back and forth, just think we should give people a chance before we sling mud.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
Da ny...
All I did was ask a question. And I stated my opinion, and no honest person could disagree with the fact that the State of RI is the State of Nepotism. Since we are last in just about every measurable category kept nationally, maybe that has something to do with it .... other than being controlled by DEMOCRATS FOR 70 YEARS, that is ..... lol
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
thepilgrim
Notice these fools are stressing a “team approach” and “working collaboratively”. No more teaching to facts and truth. No more educating the individual. Schools are now emphasizing the programming of good communist “group thinkers”. Right and wrong is long gone. What’s important is to be politically correct or to be entirely left wing.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
thepilgrim
Charlie B, You fail to understand that Dambruch is merely a stooge following the protocol of a communistic educational system called “Outcome Based Education”. The purpose of this system is to create students who can and will only agree to the group consensus and never to truth when the truth opposes the consensus. OBE only trains students to be good comrades in now Socialist Warwick.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
Mr. Hall-What you have to realize about Johnny Pajamas is he's just an angry disgruntled troll who hates the world ever since he was forced to take a phony disability pension from the police department due to his numerous disciplinary infractions. In his case, it was either take the phony disability or be fired, and he took the coward's way out.
And speaking of his phony disability pension, in the 25 years he has been receiving it, he has cost the taxpayers of Providence millions of TAX FREE dollars that now earn him over $100,000 per year. You follow city council meetings Mr. Hall and you see Johnny Pajamas bouncing around council chambers like an Olympic athlete-Does he look disabled to you?
As a law enforcement officer, you obviously have quite a bit of interaction with members of the Providence Police Dept.-mention the name Johnny Pajamas to them and you'll receive an earful about how he disgraced the uniform and the badge throughout his entire career.
Monday, March 9, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
Same old lies from the FAKE NAME COWARD, that never says anything about the topic of the article. Again I state that it is all slander, and use fake name so he doesn't get sued. I kicked his faggot ass once, and he has been upset ever since, so he hides and lies. To afraid to use real name or meet me, because he is a loser. I was the best cop PROVIDENCE EVER HAD. I WENT AFTER THOSE THAT WERE CORRUPT SO THEY TRIED SETTING ME UP. Just like this dope.... I kicked their ass also, and retired on MY TERMS.
Now get new material COWARDS!
Monday, March 9, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
While I find the back and forth between certain commenters on this site to be childish and ridiculous, if those commenters want to make fools of themselves, so be it. But when you have someone such as Mr. Simoneau using profanity, homophobic slurs, and threats of violence, it's time for the Beacon management to step in and remove those types of comments. Remember, there are children who read this blog.
And as far as using a real name, after the threats of violence on this page by a number of commenters, you would have to be out of your mind to give out your personal information on this page.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
Vulgar language. .. Snowflakes, sheeple, and COWARDS... AMAZING!
Kids read this blog so don't say "ass".... it's vulgar.....
"Faggot " is vulgar, and a "homophobic slur"... You are ok with, THEM, and the acts that it reflects? I say you have the problem, so don't lecture me on my opinion and vulgar language..lol
Grow up. The kids that read this have heard on TV AND music, or will hear, and say much worse already. You must live in a very sheltered cave, or closet, if that language bothers you. Here is a tip.
DON'T READ IT!
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Report this
JohnStark
DannyHall,
I am sure that Ms. Dambruch is a fine person and educator, and I'm not here to throw stones. However, the percent of students at Robertson meeting or exceeding expectations in both Math and English do not remotely approach 50%. In fact, Robertson students trail both state and city averages by a wide margin in Math, and marginally in English. In Math, fewer than 1 in 4 (23.7%) Robertson students are meeting expectations. Less than 1 in 4!! Not only is this most definitely NOT "...one of the top performing schools in the city", but rather the 4th lowest of 15 elementary schools in the city. I wish Ms. Dambruch well in her new role, but the same students with the same demographic are being taught by the same teachers under the same administration in the same buildings. The only variable that changes is the percent of students deemed to be competent as they progress through the system. Specifically, the longer those students remain in the Warwick public schools, the less competent they become as reflected by any data you care to reference.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
The readers of this blog really need to compare the comments of Danny Hall, John Stark, and Johnny Pajamas. While Mr. Hall and Mr. Stark articulate their points in a respectful and intelligent manor, Mr. Pajamas uses disgusting gutter language peppered with profanities and homophobic slurs. Maybe Mr. Pajamas should attempt to use a little more maturity and grace in his posts, and readers might actually pay attention to him instead of ridiculing him.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
Be politically correct? I'll leave that to you dopes. SHEEPLE AND COWARDS. Afraid to say what you mean, and mean what they say.
Homophobic slur to you. is FACT to me. Homosexuality is an abomination, and disgusting life that does not deserve a respectful response. You have your opinion, and I have mine. Get over it COWARD.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
It's obvious by his comments that Johnny Sweat Pants was absent from work on the days the Providence Police Department held diversity training for their employees. Imagine being a member of the LGBT community and how you would be treated by Johnny Sweat Pants if you had a need for police assistance. Someone needs to inform Johnny Sweat Pants that it's the year 2020, and racial slurs, homophobic slurs, and discrimination are not qualities that make a good police officer. Come t think of it, maybe it was a good thing that the police department got rid of Johnny Sweat Pants as he was a disgrace to the uniform he wore for a very short period of time before defrauding the city and receiving a bogus disability pension which at last check earned him over $100,000 per year TAX FREE. Too bad Steve Pare wasn't running the show in Providence when Johnny Sweat Pants was disgracing the department, as Pare would have fired him long ago.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Report this
Jsimmy230
BLAH, BLAH. BLAH, COWARD...
Diversity is bullshit. A liberal, socialist propaganda program that fits you perfectly COWARD. We're all equal.in my eyes. Some just chose to be perverts. That isn't illegl,so wouldn't have nade a difference to me as a cop. Now I'm not, so @*&#^! you COWARD ..
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Report this
DannyHall82
John Stark,
I apologize, I got Robinson School and Scott School mixed up/confused. I should’ve double checked my claim. Thank you for the correction.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Report this
Warwickbeautiful
***MISSING NUT CASE***
Please be on the lookout for an escaped mental patient with a description as follows:
Cranky old man with a big beer belly and a crooked buck tooth, wearing soiled pajama bottoms. Known to troll the Oakland Beach seawall area in a silver Hyundai looking to meet young men for "fun times". If you spot this creepy old man, please call the Butler Hospital missing patients unit.
Thursday, March 12, 2020 Report this
JohnStark
Danny Hall,
Still not sure where you're getting your data. 42% of Scott students were meeting or exceeding expectations in Math last year, the most recent year for which data is available. That's less than 1 in 2. While Scott had the city's highest scores, it's a very, very low bar.
Monday, March 16, 2020 Report this