Superintendent relies on the ones ‘who make it happen’

K12 leaders can set grandiose plans for growth and achievement but success depends on the teachers and staff, says Superintendent Ana C. Riley of Rhode Island’s Bristol Warren Regional School District.

“Teachers are the ones who really make it happen, and so creating a culture in which there’s buy-in and everyone is on board has helped the district grow in its success,” says Riley, Rhode Island’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year. “Even where our scores aren’t where we want them to be, we’ve seen lots of good growth.”

Riley has led the seaside district of 3,000 students since 2021. Before that, she was deputy commissioner for instructional programs in the Rhode Island Department of Education and served as superintendent of the Portsmouth School Department.

“Creating a culture where people feel like what they do matters, every day, is important,” Riley says.

In this tight-knit environment, the district’s high school has achieved its highest state ranking in more than a decade. That sense of “buy-in” also extends to both towns the district serves: voters overwhelmingly approved a $200 million bond to build a new high school.

“That adds to support teachers feel, so it’s not just from me and the principals,” Riley notes. “The community supports their work and wants what’s best for students. All of these factors contribute to this being a place where people feel valued and want to work.”

No more ‘push-pull’

The regional nature of Riley’s district requires two towns to partner on education. Historically, there had been some “push-pull” between Bristol and Warren but the school committee is now unified around student achievement and staff morale.

“What makes us unique is we continue to grow and bloom, even with all of these outside pressures that are taking a toll,” Riley continues. “I hear it from some of my peer superintendents, where there’s a lot of stress around what’s going on nationally, and I feel like our school committee and our local officials have kept us out of that.”

As a smaller suburban district, Bristol-Warren gets most of its funding from local and state sources. The district is building a fiscal year 2027 budget with lowered expectations for federal assistance.

“I feel like we’re in a good place, and that we can mitigate some of the losses,” she notes. “It’s all so unknown right now.”

Showing up every day

The district’s new high school is being built on the same campus as its existing high school. Students are participating in the design phase and can now visit the worksite and get some first-hand construction experience. The district is also renovating its other schools, and upgrading HVAC and lighting systems.

“When you freshen up and improve your physical location, that also adds to improved morale and improved culture,” Riley notes.

Awareness of students’ mental health needs is one of the biggest shifts Riley has seen during her education career. COVID amplified the urgency to meet students’ emotional and nutritional needs, she says.

Bristol-Warren used ESSER funds to double its team of counselors and social workers. When the COVID stimulus funding ran out, the district contracted telehealth services to provide students, staff and families with free mental health counseling.

“We’ve been trying to find as many opportunities as we can to give students and staff an outlet for a connection when they’re feeling like they need a little help,” Riley concludes.

“The world is filled with negativity, and when you can find a place where there’s lots of positivity, it really makes an impact, and so I’m grateful for the way our students and our staff show up every day and try to make this a great place to live and learn.”

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