Leadership For Learning

125 Plain Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852, US

Dr. James M. Halley

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Welcome

James Halley served as Superintendent for the North Kingstown Schools from 1995 to 2007.

Following is a summary of his accomplishments.

In the area of Leadership for Learning, James Halley has brought the North Kingstown school system to the forefront of educational achievement in the state of Rhode Island. Through the use of systems in the areas of instructional improvement, curriculum improvement, professional development, school improvement, parent involvement and technology, a climate of continuous improvement has been established throughout the North Kingstown School Department. This climate has led to higher achievement by students in all areas. On the average, in 2007, all North Kingstown schools have met or exceeded the 2011 No Child Left Behind student achievement targets. The gap between the performance of regular education students and students with special needs has been closing and is the smallest in the state. The North Kingstown Schools have served in a leadership role in the state and region in the areas of technology, school improvement and results based guidance programs. During Dr. Halley’s tenure three North Kingstown Principals have been selected as Rhode Island Principal of the Year. Four teachers have been selected as Rhode Island Teacher of the Year with one teacher being selected as Rhode Island’s first National Teacher of the Year. Dr. Halley was selected as the Rhode Island Superintendent of the Year in September 2006. North Kingstown High School was recently selected for Silver Recognition by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top high schools in the nation.

Dr. Halley’s Leadership for Learning extends beyond the district. He has served on statewide task forces for the improvement of education established by the Governor and the Department of Education. He served as co-chairperson of the North East Superintendents Leadership council, a partner in Brown University’s Educational Alliance. He has chaired a group representing RISSA, technology educators, RINET, the Education Alliance, RIDE, and URI in pursuing the implementation of a statewide data system to track and improve student achievement. Twenty school districts joined in a partnership to adopt a single Student Information System. Dr. Halley also has served as SORICO representative and secretary on the RINET Board of Directors. He served two years as Chairperson of the SORICO board of directors of which he had been a member for twelve years.

Dr. Halley demonstrates excellent Communication Skills both verbally and in writing. Throughout the year, he created newsletters called Halley’s Comments which were distributed to the parent community and printed in local newspapers. He has published articles and papers at thelocal and national levels. He has served as a reviewer of educational leadership publications for Corwin Press. He has made presentations at the national level at conferences for the AASA, NSBA and National PTA. He has served as a moderator, panel member and presenter at the annual meetings of the Rhode Island School Superintendents, Rhode Island Association of School Committee and the Newport Conference for the North East Superintendents Leadership Council.

Dr. Halley has been an active member of the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association throughout his tenure as Superintendent. He served as President of RISSA. He has served on the board of directors for twelve years as a regional representative and in the elected offices of Secretary and Vice President, President Elect and President. He has chaired the Annual Meeting Program committee for two years. He has also served as chair of the Data Driven Reform Goals committee. Dr. Halley has been a member of the American Association of School Administrators since 1979.

Throughout his career Dr. Halley has demonstrated a commitment to the education profession through his involvement in professional organizations and his dedication to his development as an educator. Dr. Halley belongs to and is active in AASA, NSBA and ASCD as well as their state affiliates. He has attended and presented in the national conferences of AASA and NSBA. He has attended and participated in the conferences of RISSA/RIASC and the NESLC. He represented RIDE at the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Leadership Summit. In 2004, he attended the National Education Association Challenge of Change Conference. North Kingstown administrators and school committee members conduct yearly retreats to study educational issues and plan initiatives. In the past he has taught courses at the university and graduate levels.

Since coming to Rhode Island, Dr. Halley has continued a lifetime commitment to Community Involvement. For the past fifteen years, he has been an active member of the North Kingstown Rotary Club, serving two terms as President and has been a member of the Board of Directors for the past ten years. He has been recognized for his service as a Paul Harris Fellow. He is also an active member of the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for twelve years. Dr. Halley also serves on the Narragansett Bay Council of the Boy Scouts Board of Directors as Vice President for Learning for Life. He has served on the board of directors for the Rhode Island Educational Partnership, an off shoot of the Business Education Partnership. He has been active with the Saratoga foundation and the development of educational programs to be implemented in the Saratoga Museum when it is established.