Stony Lane's Ferrario is Your 2014 Elementary Principal of the Year

Think Edward Ferrario is doing a good job at Stony Lane Elementary School?

You're not alone.

Ferrario, who has been at the helm of the North Kingstown school for five years, has been leading a strong and sustained path of improvement leading up to the schools recent classifications as a Leading school, garnering State Commended classifications and National Blue Ribbon School status.

That's why Ferrario has been named Rhode Island's 2014 Elementary School Principal of the Year.

North Kingstown Superintendent Phil Auger said Ferrario is a "shining example of how strong leadership leads to successful schools."

The Rhode Island Association of School Principals announced Ferrario's award on Wednesday afternoon, noting that the award comes at a time he has managed to keep faculty, support staff and even substitutes trained and supported with professional development "with a plethora of federal and RIDE driven initiatives."

That means Ferrario is organized, good at planning and projects a sense of optimism, fostering an "all hands on deck" culture at Stony Lane, according to the RIASP announcement.

In an example, teachers regularly meet to discuss student work and monitor their progress and school psychologists work with specific students. Where that's the end for some schools, at Stony Lane, psychologists "not only work with specific students on their caseloads, but also present social/emotional learning lessons to teachers leading to the Open Circle Social Emotional Learning program now in existence at the school."

What the means in day-to-day terms is that physical education, art and music teachers help with students in need of additional academic supports in the core instruction and all teachers incorporate arts into their teaching.

He also has created a sense of shared ownership by breaking down silos and empowering teachers with increased leadership roles and responsibilities. 

Other things, like the Stony Lane University that invites parents and community members to come together to offer enriched learning opportunities for students, exemplify the managerial and school culture changes implemented by Ferrario since he began his tenure.

And consider this: Ferrario was nominated unanimously by the faculty.

"That nomination speaks volumes regarding the highly effective, collaborative leader of Stony Lane School that he is," said Patricia Hines, executive director of RIASP.

Ferrario will be honored at the 2014 RIASP Annual Principals of the Year Awards Ceremony on May 28.