New D-R Principal Settles In

Principal Jacqueline Ash will be welcoming Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School students back to classes on September 6th. Ash started working for the district on July 1. Ash said D-R has a lot to offer students, including CTE (Career and Technical Education) classes, advanced placement classes, sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities.

“It was the excitement of how to enhance all of that to bring it even further and enhancing (students’) learning opportunities and giving them more experiences,” Ash explained as her reason for taking on a leadership role in the district.

Ash has spent her entire 34-year career in Pawtucket as a teacher, elementary principal, middle school principal, and most recently as principal of Shea High School. Ash was formerly a finalist for Rhode Island Principal of the Year. Superintendent Bill Runey noted Ash brings a “student-centric approach to DR. Having experience with CTE programs at Shea rounds out her outstanding credentials.”

Ash acknowledges being on a learning curve as she gets to know the faculty and staff at D-R and what their philosophies are all about. “I need to learn about the climate and culture of the building,” Ash noted. “I need to learn more about the academic programming. I need to look at the data and see what the data says, what are we doing really well in, what do we need to enhance and do better in. I firmly believe in a collaborative style of leadership.”

Ash praised the district’s “Portrait of a Graduate” program and hopes to improve upon it with the assistance of the central office staff. Another goal is to increase enrollment in the CTE programs. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” Ash noted. “I’m a real relationship person, so when I (attended) Manhattanville (College), I just got to know everybody. I majored in American Studies and they picked up education. When I left, I was going to teach history.”

Ash’s first teaching position was at Samuel Slater Middle School in Pawtucket. She taught 8^th grade American History and Civics. “I got involved right away, not just with the academics,” Ash recalled. “I helped to do the intramural program, I was a student council advisor because I’ve always believed that it’s not just the classroom, the students have to see you outside the classroom to build those relationships. Your success as a teacher and I think as an administrator, a big part of your success is the relationships.”

Ash spent seven years as Principal of Shea High School, an experience which proved highly rewarding. “I’ve always believed in giving (students) a belief system, and if they believe in their work and what they can accomplish, there’s no stopping them,” Ash added.