About APOY 2023 Rachel Salvatore:  When North Smithfield reconfigured their schools in 2019 they took the bold step of sending all the district’s K-4 students to North Smithfield Elementary. They know the renovated building could handle the increase in population but could they create a leadership team that would make every child feel welcome, safe, valued, and challenged. When they partnered Rachel Salvatore with experienced principal Jen Daignault they created a dynamic duo that would create a school culture that would be the envy of schools at all levels. One look at their two desks inside the same office gives one an immediate sense they are a unified team looking to make their school the best it can be. Children start the day with Rachel at the curb, greeting each one by name. They move into the school not knowing when they will see her next but knowing they will definitely see her. She’s in and out of classrooms, helping in the nurse’s office, comforting anxious kids, resolving playground disputes, and constantly reminding students of the essential values of the school - reminding them that “Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Belongs.” As third-grader Javien so eloquently wrote in his letter of support, “Mrs. Salvatore means a lot to everyone in the school. She does so much for us to make everyone feel special.”

Teachers at NSES speak of Rachel as an inspirational force and invaluable instructional resource. She meets weekly with the Instructional Leadership team to analyze data, plan for instruction, and increase overall student achievement. When COVID shut the school down, Rache stepped up and instantly showed a willingness to do “whatever it takes” to keep learning going.

Starting out as an elementary teacher at Carl Lauro School in Providence for 18 years, Rachel moved to West Broadway Middle School in the city for another 4 before moving to North Smithfield, first at Halliwell School and then landing at North Smithfield Elementary.

A Rhode Island College graduate with bachelors and masters degrees, she earned her administrator credentials through the Principals Residency Network.

About APOY 2023 Mike Monahan: Ask the questions of any student, teacher, counselor, or parent, "Who is your Go To guy at Rogers High School if you need a problem solved?" and they will all come up with the same answer: Mr. Monahan!  Need your class schedule fixed? Thinking of dropping out? Having a problem with a student in your class?  How will be get all our SAT/PSAT testing completed? How can we connect better with our multi-language learners?  All will tell you Mike Monahan is the guy with the answers and the sincere desire to help.

He is credited with building the school master schedule that includes multi-tiered systems of support for struggling learners, common planning time for teams of teachers, opportunities for students to access career and technical education, and reserving space for students to explore high-interest electives. He played an integral role in building a system of supports for the school's expanding population of multi-language learners. He started the McCauley College program for sophomores to spend time on campus at Salve Regina University, a Key Program with the local Kiwanis Club and a Rock The Street Wall Street program with a local financial services company to expose girls to careers in finance.

Mike's most profound contributions are his work with individual students and families to connect them with teachers, counselors, and services to help students maximize their potential. From providing transportation to after-school activities to his creative scheduling to his conflict mediation Mike has many, manu success stories to his credit.

A graduate of Masconomet High School in Massachusetts, Mike earned his BA in Business Administration at Skidmore College, his Masters in Counseling at Salem State University and his credentials for principal licensure at Boston University. He held administrative positions at Mt. High School and Portsmouth High School prior to his arrival at Rogers. He coached varsity hockey at Salve Regina University and was head coach at Portsmouth High where he led the Patriots to the D2 state championship.