Woonsocket school fortunate to have ‘the best’

When the sports hero om a pro team signs a contract for less than he could get on the open market, it’s called a “hometown discount.” But when a principal, who is clearly an MVP, Gold Glove, Player of the Year, and whatever laudatory items we might use takes that same discount it doesn’t even register on the public.

I just notices that one of Woonsocket’s principals just completed her tenth year of outstanding service to her hometown. She has not had a pay raise in that time. This is, on one hand, a disgrace, but also a small miracle that she hasn’t moved on to a community that pays more. It is a tribute to the deep feelings she has for her students, staff and entire community. In many conversations with Donna, she has always made it clear that she’s a “Woonsocket Girl” and wants to make it a better place to learn and live.

There are seven elementary schools in Woonsocket, and in the 10 years Donna has been principal, there have been 21 different principals. A few, who were high-quality leaders, did move on to higher salaries and contracts that were more professional. Many who left were not such good leaders.

During this time Donna was called upon to be a mentor to new principals and teach them to evaluate teachers. This took her tremendous amounts of time, but she did it with professionalism and a smile.

I am not alone in celebrating Donna’s value to schools. She will once again join the staff of the Harvard Principals Center, where she leads principals from around the country and the worl in the study of ways to improve schools. She receives great reviews for her commitment and expertise.

As you may know, I worked with Donna for many years, but I am not alone in my praise for her work. Ask anyone who works for and with her and you will get a similar response — “She’s the best.” Richard Pickett former Woonsocket principal