On Monday, February 10th, excited students and staff packed the gymnasium at Community School and gave a loud round of applause as Mrs. Cheryl Vaughn was named the 2025 Rhode Island Elementary Principal of the Year.
Mrs. Vaughn was the principal at Community School for several years before a short break and returned in 2017 to lead Community into nationally recognized status. Under her leadership, Community School boasts a 2017 Blue Ribbon and was more recently ranked #2 elementary school in RI by US News and World Report. Her dedication to her “Community” is apparent in the heartfelt nomination and letters of support.
When it was time to make nominations for Principal of the Year several teachers from Community School got together to submit their nomination, “Collectively, we have had the opportunity to work with over a dozen building administrators throughout our careers. We have experienced various leadership styles, and we can confidently say that Cheryl Vaughn is an amazing administrator. She perfectly blends professionalism, knowledge, compassion, and hard work. Our school’s numerous accolades are a testament to her leadership. Cheryl is often the first to implement new initiatives with fidelity within our district. She handles herself with composure and professionalism in even the most trying situations. Cheryl prioritizes fostering a relationship with her faculty and staff and the hundreds of families that call our school home. She is the thread that holds our school together, from filling in as the crossing guard to managing the school’s construction project to running trivia for the students while waiting for buses during dismissal. She does all this while analyzing data to support teaching and learning and maintain our consistently high-performing status. All of this is exceptional on its own, but it is significant when you recognize that she is the sole administrator in one of the largest elementary schools in the state. As a result of Cheryl’s dedication and commitment, Community School is truly a community.”
Superintendent, Philip Thornton, shared a glowing recommendation for this award, “Cheryl’s laser focus on teaching and learning is a big reason why Community Elementary is one of the top-ranked elementary schools in Rhode Island. Her intellect, attention to detail, and persistence in drilling down data to the classroom level have all played an important role in making Community School the very best. Principal Vaughn is tireless in her pursuit of getting all students to the highest levels of student achievement.” When referencing the ongoing construction at Community School he says, “Cheryl has been decisive, insightful, and practical in her approach to this transformational work. This process has not been without its challenges. Moving the entire school to a one-year temporary location was a process that Ms. Vaughn led with her usual attention to detail and good humor in managing the various human challenges that arise when making change.”
When asked “What makes a good principal?” by the Rhode Island Commissioner of Education, Angélica Infante-Green, a fourth-grade student responded, “She cares about our educational health.” Others said responsible, respectful, and caring, she makes this a place where everyone can enjoy it.
The Cumberland School Department congratulates Mrs. Vaughn on this outstanding achievement. It is committed administrators such as Cheryl who drive Cumberland towards excellence.
Award Presented by Robert E. Littlefield, Executive Director, Rhode Island Association of School Principals