Meet EPHS's New Principal - Shani Wallace

Shani Wallace 17th EPHS Principal of EPHS

"I can tell you that I am both honored and excited to be the Principal of EPHS. I have been dedicated to East Providence right from the start of my career. I love the East Providence community. I love the diversity it has to offer. I enjoy the challenges that the diversity brings to a community," - Shani Wallace. And so begins a new era at East Providence High School. A major change for the district will be at the high school where Principal Janet Sheehan has told her staff that she will not return in September as principal. On July 14th the school committee named high school Assistant Principal, Shani Wallace as new Principal, effective August 24th, 2015. Ms. Sheehan has been facing health issues recently and has decided to leave her position as Townie Principal.

Shani Wallace is a veteran of East Providence schools having served as an Assistant Principal at Martin Middle School prior to being named Assistant Principal at EPHS. Wallace has been responsible for attendance and discipline as well as administrative academic duties at both Martin and currently the high school. Sheehan and the district haven't announced her official status, either retirement or resignation or other designation, but Sheehan has informed her staff that she will not return in September. It is unclear if the district advertised the high school principalship as an opening or if Ms. Wallace was just elevated to the post. Replacing Wallace as high school Assistant Principal will be Martin Middle School Principal Frank DeVall.


"It is nice to already know, firsthand, the amazing staff that East Providence High School has. I have been a witness to the intense work that all have put forward over the last few years to improve and expand opportunities for students. Their dedication to the student body and East Providence as a whole is amazing. I look forward to working with everyone and seeing what else we can do to make East Providence High School thrive," Wallace told The Reporter.

EPHS for years, has been the state's largest high school. In recent years the enrollment has dipped to around 1,600 students but still remains one of Rhode Island's largest. The school includes a Career and Technical Center on its' campus. The high school has gone through major building recommendations and has done well academically of late.

"I've been in the EP School system for 23 years. I started subbing at Martin, Riverside and EPHS right out of college in 1992," recalled Wallace. "I was hired as an 8th grade Mathematics teacher in 1994. I taught for 6 years. I absolutely loved teaching and my heart is still in the classroom. I have a high respect for the ever building and continuous workload teachers face on a day to day basis. With the push to continuously increase rigor, challenge all students yet, meet the individual needs of every student in their classrooms does not go unrecognized by me and will always be valued. I understand and respect the time, energy and commitment it takes to do so," continued Wallace.

Wallace has extensive experience in all aspects of school management. She has been at the forefront of middle and high school discipline and security planning and has been active in academic oversight at the high school.

Wallace, 45, has a Masters Degree in Secondary Administration and was hired as a House Leader at Martin MS and then hired as Assistant Principal in 2001. "I was extremely proud to be a part of the Martin Middle School Faculty. I was thrilled to be a part of the change and growth of Martin transforming itself from a Junior High School to a true Middle School in concept and action and then supporting and witnessing Martin become a High Performing school at the time was incredible. The staff and students deserved that recognition," said Wallace.

In September of 2009, Wallace was transferred to the High School as Assistant Principal. "I can say with sincere honesty that transformation of EPHS from where it was in 2009 to where it is now in 2015 is incredible. The amount of change that has occurred cannot go unrecognized. Both staff and students have shown incredible strength and focus in leading and stepping up to an enormous amount of pressure surrounding changes in expectations of educational standards, rules, regulations, culture, and even physical changes within and around the building itself. I have been lucky and can say I have worked with a great team of Administrators, Deans and a wonderful group of teachers that helped make EPHS what it is today. Again, I look forward to working with everyone and seeing what else we can do to make East Providence High School thrive," added an excited Wallace.