Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Providence honors Cynthia Van Avery, named RI Special Education Administrator of the Year
Summary
The school committee presented a plaque and citation to Cynthia Van Avery after ARISE named her Rhode Island Special Education Administrator of the Year for 2025; members praised her work expanding inclusive practices and district programs.
The North Providence School Committee recognized Cynthia Van Avery on June 18 after the Association of Rhode Island Administrators of Special Education (ARISE) named her the organization's 2025 Rhode Island Special Education Administrator of the Year.
Van Avery, director of student services in North Providence since 2019, was surprised with the award earlier in June and will receive a formal presentation in September alongside statewide acknowledgments by the Rhode Island Department of Education, the committee said.
Committee members described Van Avery's work as expanding inclusive practices across the district through staff training, reallocating resources and starting a novice special-education mentoring program. The committee also credited her work creating in-district therapeutic programs that allowed more students with clinical needs to remain in the district and noted her current work aligning the North Providence Integrated Preschool Program with Rhode Island BrightStars standards.
The committee presented a citation and plaque that read, in part, "Your dedication and commitment is an inspiring example for the staff and students of the North Providence Public Schools." Committee members and Van Avery exchanged remarks; Van Avery said she felt "blessed" to come to work every day and thanked administrators and colleagues who support special education work in the district.
The recognition was ceremonial and intended to publicly note the statewide award and the district's nomination and support.
