School Leadership

An experienced leader whose vision is driving a re-invention of nursing education. A Registered Nurse who began her nursing career in RI, she holds a BSN in Nursing, an MS in Nursing Administration, and a PhD in Nursing, with a research focus on nursing workforce diversity. Prior to her career at RINI-MC, Dr McCue was Director of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education for the State of RI and Executive Director of the RI State Nurses Association.

An experienced financial manager who has worked with charter schools. He obtained his Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration, and a Masters’ of Science degree in Accounting both at the University of Rhode Island. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Rhode Island. Prior to working at the RINI- MC, Mr. Abney was a Staff Accountant at Dittmar, McNeil & Ferolito, CPAs, where he worked with other not-for-profit Charter Schools performing financial management support services and annual audits.

An experienced veteran educator, whose career has been dedicated to educating young minds and ensuring that all high school students reach their fullest potential. Ms. Ferland was a social studies teacher at Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket for over 10 years. In 2010, she became a Master teacher when she graduated from Johnson & Wales University with her Masters Degree in Education. In 2017, she completed her Master of Science in Administration from the University of Scranton. She served as an Assistant Principal at Smithfield High School and then transitioned to Assistant Principal of one of the largest high schools in the state; Cranston High School West in 2020. She is a member of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and currently serves as a Board Member for the Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning Center.

An experienced educator with ten years of experience educating students in diverse communities. Ms. Alford began her career teaching high school English in Florida, where she received Teacher of the Year in the 2019-2020 school year. Ms. Alford began her tenure at the Rhode Island Nurses Institute in 2021 as a Literacy Interventionist and the Humanities Academic Chair. She holds a BA in English and History from the University of Montevallo and a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Auburn University. In June 2023, she completed the Principal Residency Network program through the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity to obtain her building administrator certification.

An experienced leader, Registered Nurse, and quality improvement consultant; who is dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in the community. As a Bilingual Registered Nurse, she has cared for patients of the full life cycle, from newborns to end of life. With over 10 years of experience working with the community, Ms. Santana holds multiple degrees; a Diploma in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, and a certification in Case Management. Prior to her career at RINI-MC, Ms. Santana worked in case management for 5 years for the Providence Community Health Centers. She also teaches CNA classes in English and Spanish. Ms. Santana is currently pursuing a Master of Healthcare Administration.

Mrs. Connaughton has spent over 30 years in the non-profit sector supporting individuals to become socially and economically self-sufficient through the provision of educational, health, prevention, and other basic needs services. In 1987, Mrs. Connaughton received her Bachelor’s degree in Family Development and Human Studies from the University of Rhode Island. She is an experienced human resource manager and consultant who began her career as an early childhood educator, following her graduation from URI. In 1992, Mrs. Connaughton transitioned from the role of Teacher to Administrator as a Head Start Director, graduating from the Head Start Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows program through UCLA’s School of Management. In 2006, Mrs. Connaughton embarked on her career in the field of human resources, participating in an 8-week Human Resource Boot Camp which culminated in her becoming a Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP). Mrs. Connaughton is certified as a provider of Mental Health First Aid and serves as a member of the RI Society of Human Resource Management and the National Society of Human Resource Management.