Faculty & Staff
Michael Skeldon, Ed.D.
Principal
Although this is his first year as Beacon's Principal, Michael Skeldon has been with the school since 2004. After earning his B.A. in Secondary Education from Rhode Island College, he worked for the next decade in social services and proprietary education in Rhode Island and California. Initially hired at Beacon as a social studies teacher, Dr. Skeldon was the only academic teacher to return to the school following the tumultuous summer of 2005. In 2006, he designed Beacon's innovative Capstone film project. As Academic Dean from 2005-2011, he refined the project and developed the school's digital portfolio system. In 2011, he met all principal certification requirements by completing a residency under Dr. Robert Pilkington. In the Spring of 2012, he earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Johnson and Wales University, including a dissertation on “Perceptions of Judges Toward Rigor of High School Senior Capstone Projects at a Northern RI Charter School.”
Robin Murphy
Dean of Students
Robin Murphy received her B.S. in Physical Education from the University of Rhode Island in 2002. After graduation she was employed by the National Guard's Drug Demand Reduction program to educate youth in Rhode Island about the dangers of drugs through classroom lessons and project adventure activities including ropes course initiatives. In 2003 she was hired as a physical education teacher at Beacon Charter High School and moved to the position of Dean of Students in 2006. In the spring of 2006 she left the Air National Guard after eight years of service. As one of the original faculty members at Beacon, Mrs. Murphy has a unique perspective on the institution's history and future.
Christina Go
Director of Admissions and Family Engagement
Christina Go was a key figure in the founding of the school. She has been the Director of Operations & Admissions, helped with student support since Beacon began, and currently, has duties as Parent Engagement Coordinator. Mrs. Go is also active in the community, and serving as Beacon's ambassador, finds unique ways to incorporate the talents of the students to give them exposure. Indeed, Mrs. Go serves as a model of community involvement.
Patricia Hawkridge
Artistic Director
Patricia Hawkridge holds an MFA in Dramatic Arts with a concentration in Acting & Speech from The George Washington University. She served as Chairman of the Beacon Charter Board of Trustees from 2005-2008. Her daughter, Kira, is a Beacon graduate, Class of 2008. Prior to becoming Beacon's first Artistic Director, Mrs. Hawkridge was an Associate Professor of Theatre and the Chairman of the Department of Theatre Arts at Salve Regina University. She is the founder/artistic director of LaVoce: Theatre That Speaks, a RI based theatre company. Mrs. Hawkridge's scholarly research lies in the area of vocal production. She currently teaches classes and workshops in public speaking and vocal improvement at colleges, universities and theatres in RI and Massachusetts.
Carolyn Taylor
Director of Special Education
Carolyn Taylor is entering her seventh year at Beacon. She joined the faculty in September 2005 as a special education teacher and, in 2009, earned a Master's in Special Education Administration from Rhode Island College and became Beacon's Director of Special Education. Mrs. Taylor believes that all children can learn and have a successful, independent future. She supports her special education colleagues by consulting at a local charter school and mentoring new charter school special education administrators.
Uriah Donnelly
Film and Capstone Teacher
Uriah Donnelly has a B.A. in English Literature and a M.A. in Digital Media Production from Rhode Island College. His feature documentary on folk duo Atwater-Donnelly premiered on PBS in 2007 and has become part of their regular rotation since. In the past he has worked for RIC as an adjunct professor, for Boston Film Collaborative, and other various film education groups. Mr. Donnelly came to Beacon in 2009, taking over the film and Capstone duties, and is now in his third year.
Nicholas Jzyk
Culinary Arts Teacher
Winning his first recipe contest at the age of eleven, it would only make sense that Nicholas Jzyk would pursue a career in food. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was awarded the Chafee Junior Award for Service in the Blackstone Valley. Upon entering Johnson & Wales University, he earned a position on the President's Leadership Council and quickly found employment at Hops Restaurant Bar and Brewery. Hops helped further Chef Jzyk's skillset and he mastered a variety of kitchen positions, becoming a trainer of each. In addition, he offered consulting and menu development services to a variety of restaurants. He returned to Rhode Island College to study Career and Technical Education. Upon completing his student teaching, he became certified to teach quantity food production in Rhode Island. During the 2010-2011 school year, Chef Jzyk and his two partners opened their first restaurant, Souper Bowls, a football themed luncheon, in Providence. Currently in his fifth year of teaching at Beacon, he continues to raise the bar for his students and himself. In addition he serves as Foodservice Director of Cooking4Change.org and as co-founder of Dead Letter, an urban arts collective established to provide promotion and give representation to the people's art.
Jason LeClair
Visual Arts and Theatre Teacher
Jason Robert LeClair is an honors graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA. His B.F.A. in Media and Performing Arts has not deterred his original love for the visual arts. He has been teaching at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts since 2007. As a teacher, Mr. LeClair believes in the studio of the mind: bringing forth the five physical senses and the elusive emotions attached to each in order to achieve stylistic expression for the student/artist. When acceptance of vision is achieved by the individual, the studio in the mind can generate great works. The task is achieving the fruition these works so deserve. “The only thing that prevents you from doing anything is yourself,” is a frequent quote from Mr. LeClair to his pupils. Using a traditional base to his curriculum, he teaches the foundations of art in order for the student to better fulfill his/her vision as an artist. His goal is to “put purpose to the passion” of his students.
Carolyn Moseley
Visual Arts Teacher
Carolyn Moseley has been a member of the Beacon staff from the very beginning. She graduated from RIC with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and concentration in Ceramics in 2002. She served on the committee that drafted the RI Visual Proficiency Standards for high school graduation in 2003-2005. In 2011, Ms. Moseley completed a Master's degree in Art Education from UMass Dartmouth. She believes that it is important for all students to continue their education and attend college. As such, she runs her classroom like a college studio class and challenges her students with early college-level work.
Dawn Souza
Theatre Arts Teacher
Dawn Souza is a certified Rhode Island Theatre Arts Teacher for grades K-12. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Science from Salve Regina University and her Master of Arts degree in Theatre Education. She has been working at Beacon for nine years and has the opportunity to work as Beacon Board secretary, SIT vice chair, yearbook advisor, and leader of the after school drama program. She is inspired by the work of her students and also participates in theatre herself. Ms. Souza is a member of the Educational Theater Association and is the leader for Beacon Charter High School's Thespian Troupe, 7444.
Carrie Appel
English Teacher
An English teacher with over ten years of experience, Carrie Appel is now in her fifth year at Beacon. While an undergraduate at Boston University, Ms. Appel was enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and upon graduating, she was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an officer. After serving her country for four years, she decided to leave the army and pursue her true passion: teaching. She then received her M.A. in English Education from New York University, and began a teaching career in New York City. There she learned quickly the importance of an organized and disciplined classroom, two tenets that still very much inform her practice today. An avid reader and writer, Ms. Appel wishes to expose her students to a wide variety of literary genres to help instill a genuine love and appreciation of reading. With this, she endeavors to teach the necessary skills to write and speak confidently in response to all kinds of texts with clarity, thoughtfulness, and creativity.
April Bernier
Science Teacher
April Bernier graduated from Smith College in 2006 with a major in Biology and a minor in Religious Studies. During and after college, she worked on a number of research projects, studying everything from teenage sleep patterns to shark feeding habits. In 2009, Mrs. Bernier completed the Rhode Island Teaching Fellows program and began teaching at Woonsocket High School. After teaching at WHS for two years, she is excited to be starting at Beacon this year.
Peter Boland
English Teacher
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Communications and a career in advertising, marketing and broadcasting, Peter Boland returned to Rhode Island College to pursue a degree in Secondary English Education. He has taught in public, private Catholic and now in the charter school realm after joining Beacon in the summer of 2007. His career in education also includes teaching in the Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program, and in continuing education and at the university level. In 2003 he attained his first Master's degree in Secondary English Education from Rhode Island College and earned a second Master's degree, this time in Special Education, from Providence College in May of 2010. Mr. Boland immensely enjoys everything about Beacon, and can be found chaperoning dances, advising the Anime Club, helping out in admissions or fulfilling his duties as president of the school's Parent-Teacher-Student Association.
Ann Brockmann
Inclusion Teacher
Ann Brockmann has served as Assistant to the Director of Special Education and an inclusion teacher at Beacon since 2007. She is an educator with over thirty years experience in both general education and special education. She worked twenty-one years at a Catholic elementary school, eleven years as a teacher and then ten years as a principal. She has served on the Rhode Island Special Education Advisory Committee since 2006. She received a B.S. in Psychology and Special Education from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Education in Elementary Administration from Providence College. Despite a long commute from Westerly every day, Ms. Brockmann considers having the challenge and excitement of her work at Beacon, the opportunity to work with Beacon's talented faculty and staff, and with the friendly and uniquely-gifted students well worth the drive.
John Butler, Ph.D.
Mathematics Department Chair and Data Analyst
John Butler has been a part of the Beacon faculty since 2005. He brings to Beacon Charter High School a wealth of “real world” experience both from the private sector and previous teaching in RI public high schools. Born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, Dr. Butler earned an A.S. in Engineering from CCRI (1977) followed by a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Western New England College. As a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), he spent twenty-two years in mechanical/electrical engineering – designing automated machines and supervising installations both in the U.S. and throughout Europe. He is the inventor of over 20 U.S. and foreign patents and the author of several published technical articles in the field of engineering. In 1982, he co-founded the Mechtrix Corporation (a leading manufacturer in the electrical wire processing industry) located in Wisconsin. After moving back to Rhode Island, John made a career change from the private sector to teaching high school mathematics. He earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics (MAT) from Providence College (2003) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education from the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College (2009). He is the recipient of the Kappa Delta Pi “2010 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award” from the University of Rhode Island for his dissertation, entitled “Exploring Some Inattended Affective Factors in Performing Nonroutine Mathematical Tasks.” John is also an adjunct faculty member of the Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program.
Jill Byrne
English Teacher
Jill Byrne received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Keene State College in 1999. After working for several years for a civil rights organization, Mrs. Byrne decided to pursue her teaching certification. She received her credentials from Providence College in 2008. She has served as a substitute teacher in the North Providence and Cumberland school districts. Mrs. Byrne is currently a long-term substitute in Beacon's English Department.
Sarah Cinquegrana
Mathematics Teacher
Sarah Cinquegrana is a new teacher at Beacon and currently teaches 9th grade Algebra I and 11th grade Algebra II. She attended the teacher preparatory program at Rhode Island College and obtained her teaching certificate as a Highly Qualified Teacher from the Rhode Island Department of Education. Ms. Cinquegrana is excited to see the growth of her students through creative, challenging, and exciting activities in her classroom. She is impressed with the pride that her students take in their school and feels fortunate to be part of the Beacon family.
William Connell
Special Education Teacher
William J. Connell is an inclusion teacher and is now in his third year at Beacon. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University, a Doctoral Degree from Suffolk University, and a Master of Education degree from Providence College. Mr. Connell has extensive experience both in education and in the fields of law and government.
Shayna Fox
Reading Specialist
Shayna Fox holds a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Leadership and a B.A. in Secondary Education and General Biology from the University of RI. Additionally, she holds a Master's in Education in Literacy from Roger Williams University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. Ms. Fox joined the faculty of Beacon in 2007 as a science teacher and in 2010 became Beacon's reading specialist. She currently sits on the state literacy team, which is working to develop a cohesive framework for K-12. During the summer of 2011, Ms. Fox became Mrs. Fox-Norwitz in a unique wedding ceremony held at the Mystic Aquarium surrounded by family, friends, and penguins.
Nikos Giannopoulos
Special Education Teacher
Nikos Giannopoulos joined Beacon as a secondary inclusion teacher in 2010. Originally from Pennsylvania, he moved to Rhode Island after being accepted into the Rhode Island Teaching Fellows program. Prior to teaching at Beacon, Mr. Giannopoulos attended the University of Pittsburgh where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History of Art and Architecture and French Literature with minors in Studio Art and Italian Language. While studying abroad at the University of Rennes 2 - Upper Brittany, he had the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language to inner-city middle and high school students in Rennes, France. In addition to education, Nikos has substantial experience in the arts including working as a docent at the Andy Warhol Museum and as a Brackenridge Summer Research Fellow studying Post-Industrial Architecture and Building Reuse in Pittsburgh. Mr. Giannopoulos is a firm believer that the arts, strong community engagement, and differentiated instruction are essential ingredients to the creation of a positive learning environment.
Meghan Leeming
Mathematics Teacher
A first year teacher here at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, Meghan Leeming teaches 10th grade Geometry and 12th grade Pre-Calculus and Advanced Algebra. She graduated from Elmira College in 2009 with a Bachelor or Arts degree in Adolescent Education and Mathematics. In addition to her work at Beacon, Ms. Leeming teaches for the Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program, servicing low-income students who want to succeed in high school and go to college. She believes that all students have the ability to learn in the classroom and beyond.
James MacDonald
History Teacher
James MacDonald has taught at Beacon since the fall of 2007. He currently teaches 11th grade U.S. History and senior electives which include an introduction to psychology and an examination of art as protest. Additionally, he also serves as co-advisor for student council. Mr. MacDonald graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in History and obtained his teacher certification through the M.A.T. program at Rhode Island College. What he likes most about Beacon is seeing students be successful and empowered in Beacon's school culture after often having struggled to be themselves in other schools.
Carol Mowry
Spanish Teacher
Carol Mowry has been teaching at Beacon since September 2005 and has been an integral part of the Beacon rebuilding process. She has been a member of the School Improvement Team, the school-wide PBGR committee, and was a class advisor to students from the class of 2008. She has more recently spent her time as an Arts Night and yearbook photographer, Advisory Communication Coordinator, and is currently an advisor to students in the class of 2012. Mrs. Mowry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Rhode Island College and spent her college junior year at El Instituto Internacional in Madrid, Spain. She received her Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from Providence College with a Middle School Endorsement from Rhode Island College. Mrs. Mowry absolutely loves teaching and mentoring and can often be seen at the many Beacon student events.
Elizabeth Moynihan
Health and Physical Education Teacher
Liz Moynihan joined the Beacon staff in the fall of 2011. She received her Bachelor of Science from Rhode Island College in the fields of Health Education and Physical Education, with a specialization in Adapted Physical Education. Previously, she has taught at the elementary and middle school levels, and decided to keep moving up the ranks! Her educational philosophy aims to educate students by providing opportunities for all students to achieve the knowledge, skills, and values that will develop and enhance their sense of well-being and maximize the quality of their lives. In her spare time, Ms. Moynihan enjoys watching the Red Sox and spending time with her friends and family.
Dana Pagliaro
Microsoft Office and Business Teacher
After graduating from the University of Tampa in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing, Dana Pagliaro worked as an account manager in medical sales. Knowing full well sales was not for her, she continued her education at Providence College earning a Secondary Education certification in Social Business. In 2008, she began working at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts teaching 9th grade Microsoft Office and 10th grade Small Business Marketing. As a fourth year teacher, Mrs. Pagliaro has had the pleasure of watching all her students grow and thrive as artists and as learners. Each year she looks forward to helping to make her students' high school endeavors rich with valuable learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Additionally, she has taken a leadership role as a student council moderator, and through this, has helped to spearhead successful fundraising and community service efforts.
Jennifer Wall
Humanities Teacher
Jennifer Wall was at Beacon on opening day. She spent one year (2005- 2006) away from Beacon and couldn't wait to come back. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth with a B.A. in History and attended graduate school at Providence College, where she received an M.A. in European History. After spending a few years teaching horseback riding lessons and coaching the University of Rhode Island Equestrian Team, Ms. Wall returned to Providence College to complete The Teacher Certification Program. She strongly believes that “Beacon is the best school ever!”
Jessica Waters
Science Teacher
Jessica Waters has been teaching at Beacon since 2008. She currently teaches 11th grade Chemistry and 12th grade Human Anatomy and Physiology. She holds a degree in Secondary Education, Biology and Chemistry from Rhode Island College. Jessica is a member of Amgen Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program and the Rhode Island Science Teacher Association (RISTA). Mrs. Waters was named Beacon Charter High School Teacher of the Year (and one of three finalists statewide) for 2012 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year. She is the participating teacher for the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) after school program. Mrs. Waters believes that every student should be afforded an equal opportunity at learning which inherently requires her to continuously monitor students' progress and to intervene, when necessary, at the earliest possibility to effectively promote student success. This belief requires that each student be considered as both “gifted” and of “special needs.” Successfully balancing career and family, she is happily married and the proud mother of three girls.
Maureen Grzebien
Assistant Business Manager
Maureen Grzebien has worked for Beacon since January of 2010. Although her degree is in medical technology, after several years of clinical work, she decided to enter into an administrative role. She managed two medical practices during the twenty-five years prior to coming to Beacon to work in the finance office. Mrs. Grzebien is married, has two married sons, and a granddaughter.
Mary Hoyle, RN
School Nurse Teacher
Mary Hoyle came to Beacon in September 2004 as the school nurse. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a B.S. in Nursing. Ms. Hoyle truly enjoys working in Beacon's atmosphere, where everybody works together for the good of the students. In addition to her duties at Beacon, she serves as an RN at Wrentham State School and enjoys reading in her spare time.
Deb Jarvis
Assistant to the Dean
Deb Jarvis graduated from Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Massachusetts. She was transplanted to RI in 1986 where she met and married her husband. A working mother of three boys, she was always involved in many levels of the PTA and after school activities. Mrs. Jarvis eventually worked for the Warwick School Department. Wanting to stay involved in education she applied to Beacon in 2008, serving as the main office secretary for three years and now Assistant to the Dean. Her philosophy is “If I can help just one student get through the day, it's all worth it.”
Kayla Menard
Receptionist
Ms. Menard joined Beacon as a student when it opened its doors in 2003. Valedictorian of the first graduating class in 2006, she has continued to stay involved with the school. This is her first year as an official member of the staff as the school's receptionist. In addition to working at Beacon, Ms. Menard is working towards a degree in English with the hopes of one day teaching.
Julie Owsik
Nutrition Advisor
Julie Owsik is a Boston College graduate who came to Beacon last year. She has more than thirty years of experience in working with teenagers in many capacities, including ten years of substitute teaching in three school districts. Her educational philosophy is simple: Kids don't care what you know until they know that you care. “Mrs. O.” believes that respect is a two way street, and on that foundation has built a trusting relationship with many Beacon students. Her background in health is being utilized in the culinary program this year to oversee school nutrition.
Brian Rea
Maintenance Director
Brian Rea came to Beacon in 2006. He studied at CCRI and has an extensive background in property management. After starting in the workforce in the construction field as a teenager, he later owned and operated his own local property management company here in Rhode Island. After first being contracted by Beacon, he was asked to stay on as Maintenance Director. Brian enjoys looking to the future of Beacon and is excited to be a part of its growth in any and every way.
Suzanne Russell
School-Based Coordinator
Suzanne Russell has always had a love for the arts as well as their important connection between kids and their education in all subjects. She obtained her B.S. in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, completed a few years of teaching in urban settings then went on to study the arts and art history with a major in photography at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Through her work in photography, Ms. Russell has done freelance, commercial and documentary work throughout the US, Europe and North Africa. She has also spent time living and working in London, and both the West and East Coasts. She has been working at Beacon as the School Based Coordinator for over five years.