Having already received the highest honor from her peers around the state, East Providence Superintendent of Schools Kathryn Crowley will soon be recognized by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) with one of its top annual accolades.
RIPEC announced Mrs. Crowley and Lynne Urbani as the recipients of its 44th annual public service awards. The awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated sustained superior performance in the service of the Rhode Island taxpayer; fiscal responsibility and business acumen; a record of integrity and devotion to public service; personal initiative and resourcefulness; and diligence and productivity.
Mrs. Crowley, previously named Superintendent of Year by the R.I, Superintendents Association, will receive the Robert M. Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognizes an outstanding local employee. According to RIPEC, Mr. Crowley is being honored “for her leadership over the past three and one-half years of the East Providence School System, which had been devastated following a city financial crisis.”
The group noted the district “has been transformed and is now experiencing a resurgence in student performance including graduation and attendance rates. A signature piece of her efforts was the East Providence voters passing a $185,500,000 bond issue to replace the aging East Providence High School building.”
Of being recognized by RIPEC, Mrs. Crowley said, “I am very honored to receive this prestigious award. What we’ve done in East Providence has a been a team effort among the assistant superintendents, central administration, teachers and all our staff throughout the district.”
The Gary S. Sasse Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognizes an outstanding state employee, will be presented to Ms. Urbani, the Policy Director to the R.I. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The awards will be formally presented at RIPEC’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Monday, Oct. 7, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.
Attendees of the annual meeting will hear a keynote address from Presidential Historian and author, Michael Beschloss, as well as remarks from Governor Gina Raimondo, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello. In addition, there will be special recognition for outgoing RIPEC President and CEO, John Simmons, who is leaving after more than a decade of service.
