Jeremy Chiappetta, Head of School Mr. Chiappetta served as an assistant principal at Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School in the Providence Public School District. While at Perry, Chiappetta founded the school-wide Perry-to-College program, whereby students "applied" to colleges and toured campuses including Harvard, Brown, Providence College, and Bryant University. The program helped Perry meet its academic accountability targets in all three years of his tenure and led to a 250% increase in the number of Perry students admitted to Providence's only public exam-entry high school. As a Broad Resident, Chiappetta served as a special assistant to the Superintendent in Providence. Before joining the Broad Residency, he worked for IBM's Business Consulting Services where he developed business and technology solutions for a variety of private sector firms. Mr. Chiappetta has also served as the deputy director of Chess-in-the-Schools, a nonprofit organization helping thousands of public school student grow intellectually and socially. He began his career as a Teach For America social studies teacher in New York City. Chiappetta holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in business administration from the Yale School of Management, and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Rhode Island.
Silvia Cuello, Office Manager Ms. Cuello is the parent of three children and is an experienced Office Manager with experience in both the public school and medical setting. Since 2002, Ms. Cuello has served as an Office Manager in a Providence Middle School where she organized after-school athletics and parent engagement activities. Ms. Cuello is bilingual English/Spanish and is a graduate of the Sawyer School.
Colleen Colarusso, Lead Teacher Ms. Colarusso holds a bachelor’s degree from Regis College in Spanish and History and worked as a Teach For America Kindergarten Teacher in an urban school in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ms. Colarusso recently completed a Masters Degree from Harvard’s Mind, Brain, and Education program while concurrently working as an intern at Codman Academy Charter School in Boston, MA. Ms. Colarusso enjoys the outdoors and is spending her summer as a park ranger on Martha’s Vineyard.
Lori Daniels, Lead Teacher Ms. Daniels holds a BA from the University of Texas – Arlington and worked as an Americorps Corps Member in New Orleans. Prior to serving as a Texas Teaching Fellow in a bilingual classroom, Ms. Daniels competed as a member of the United States Paralympic Women’s Volleyball Team, winning a bronze medal in 2004 and later served as a captain for the team. Ms. Daniels is spending her summer teaching earth science, gardening, and culinary skills to young people at City Farm in Providence.
Jessica Druchniak, Lead Teacher Ms. Druchniak holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Early Childhood from the Erikson Institute. Ms. Druchniak most recently led a Kindergarten classroom at Chicago’s Legacy Charter School where her students had amazing academic results. Ms. Druchniak is moving to Rhode Island to teach at Democracy Prep and to be with her husband who is in a doctoral program at Brown University. She believes that school should be engaging, supportive, exciting, and challenging and she looks forward to building strong and trusting relationships with each and every scholar at Democracy Prep.
Joy Souza, Lead Teacher Ms. Souza holds a BA from the University of Rhode Island and is the parent of four daughters. She is a veteran Kindergarten teacher and was twice nominated as Teacher of the Year in Exeter-West Greenwich, Rhode Island and was nominated for the Rhode Island Amgem Award for Science and Teaching Excellence. Mrs. Souza enjoys reading and is part of many book clubs, has led PTOs, and coached recreational and competitive youth soccer teams.
Constance Giblin, Teaching Fellow Ms. Giblin holds a BA from the University of Rhode Island in English and two Masters Degrees (Elementary Education and Children’s Literature) from Simmons College. Ms. Giblin worked as an Americorps Corps Member in Alaska and spent the past two years teaching English in Spain to elementary school students. Ms. Giblin spends her summers as a river guide in Alaska. Ms. Giblin is multilingual, speaking English, Spanish, Portuguese, and some Arabic.
Kristin Oakland, Teaching Fellow Ms. Oakland holds a BS in Education from Salve Regina University where she majored in Early Childhood Education and minored in Special Education. Ms. Oakland has volunteered and worked in several elementary schools in Rhode Island. During high school and college she played on the women's ice hockey team. Her accomplishments include leadership award, 2nd Team All-State Award, and a 2 time captain. Kristin is thrilled to begin her teaching career at the Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley. She is looking forward to an exciting and successful year!
Maria Sutera, Teaching Fellow Ms. Sutera is a graduate of Salve Regina University where she majored in Early Childhood Education and minored in Special Education. Ms. Sutera has volunteered and worked as a Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten teacher in several schools in Rhode Island and in Hartford, Connecticut. She also studied abroad in Rome, Italy where she interned in a Pre-Kindergarten and First Grade classroom. In addition to her teaching experiences, Ms. Sutera has been involved in programs and organizations for people with special needs, taking leadership roles in both the Best Buddies Organization, Salve Chapter and the RI East Bay Special Olympics.
Matthew Yates, Teaching Fellow Mr. Yates is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where he majored in History. Mr. Yates spent time volunteering in Providence Schools through the VIPS program, and upon graduation took a position as a 1st Grade Teacher Assistant in one of the top performing elementary schools in NJ. Mr. Yates also ran an after-school program for the Foundation Academy Charter School in Trenton, NJ.
Michelle Turner, Art Teacher Ms. Turner holds a BA in Art Education and a Masters in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College. After eleven years of teaching art in a K-5 setting, Ms. Turner most recently completed school-wide collaborative projects as Artist in Residence for a local preschool and elementary school. This summer she hosts a weekly story and craft hour and an art camp for preschool and school-age children. A Cumberland resident, she lives with her husband and three young children.
John Murray, Health and Physical Education Teacher Mr. Murray joins Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley with heralded experience in both teaching physical education and health and coaching a variety of sports, including baseball and basketball. Mr. Murray holds a BS from the University of Rhode Island, where he was honored by making the Dean's List. Mr. Murray successfully founded a fitness and wellness program for a local high school and his enthusiasm for teaching and learning is palpable. Mr. Murray was born and raised in Scituate, Rhode Island.
Piera Caruso, Music Teacher Ms. Caruso holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the University of Rhode Island. A professional cellist and singer, Ms. Caruso has taught in elementary schools and early childhood programs throughout Rhode Island. In addition to voice and cello, Ms. Caruso has performed and taught piano, violin, and guitar. Ms. Caruso is the founder and director of the Cumberland Office of Children, Youth and Learning Chorus.