Newport Hires 'Hometown Girl' as Superintendent

A Newport native accepted the offer of Newport Superintendent Thursday night. 

John Ambrogi, Newport’s current superintendent, is retiring in January. Ambrogi, who was hired in 2005, has held the role in other communities since 1984.

Colleen Jermain, a graduate of Rogers High School and a current Middletown resident, will be leave her position as chief of staff performance and technology integration for Providence Schools to take the take the helm of the Newport District. 

“She’s a hometown girl,” said School Committee Member Robert Leary.  “She grew up here. Her father was the principal at Rogers.”

Jermain served as assistant superintendent for Portsmouth Schools from 2004 until 2011, when she left to accept her current position with Providence. 

“She has all three towns covered if we talk about regionalization,” Leary pointed out.  

Jermain was the superintendent and principal of Little Compton from 2000 until 2004. Before that role, she was a teacher in Tiverton.

“She’s built relationships in everything she’s done,” said Leary. 

Jermain is a 1980 graduate of Providence College and a current doctoral candidate at Johnson and Wales University.  

Welcome Colleen Jermain to her new role in the comments section below!