2020 -- S 2334

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING BRIAN GILMORE ON BEING SELECTED AS RHODE ISLAND’S

2020 “FIRST YEAR PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR”

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Ciccone, Paolino, Nesselbush, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2020

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, In the words of President John Quincy Adams "If your actions inspire

others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Brian Gilmore,

Principal of the Birchwood Middle School in North Providence, has inspired his staff and the

school’s students to envision the possibilities, to have confidence in themselves and their abilities,

and to believe in a future full of promise; and

     WHEREAS, For his outstanding leadership during his first year as Principal, Mr.

Gilmore has earned the prestigious honor of being named First Year Principal of the Year by the

Rhode Island Association of School Principals; and

     WHEREAS, Prior to his career in education, Mr. Gilmore had completed the New York

Police Academy. To the good fortune of all his students, he instead chose to become a teacher.

He began his career at Jenks Junior High in Pawtucket as a 7th-grade social studies teacher,

where he met his future wife, Christine. He spent the next three years at Goff Junior High, also in

Pawtucket, before taking a position as an Assistant Principal in West Warwick, and then returned

to the classroom for a few years; and

     WHEREAS, In 2018, Mr. Gilmore was named Principal of the Birchwood Middle School

in his hometown of North Providence. Approachable and involved, he has been described as "a

big dad walking around the building." When once asked how many children he has, he replied, “I

have 453 kids and two at home.” His two daughters, Emma and Madeline, have also become part

of his school family, often joining their dad at the school’s Student of the Month breakfasts; and

     WHEREAS, Principal Gilmore is credited with elevating the school's academic standings

in numerous areas. During his short tenure, Birchwood’s students improved 31 percent in

English on the state’s standardized test (RICAS) and 12 percent in math, with only 9 percent not

meeting the standard, which is down from the previous 20 percent. In addition, teacher

absenteeism was 18 percent last year and has now dropped to 6 percent, and suspensions have

dropped from 198 days and 50 students to 59 days and 20 students; and

     WHEREAS, Brian Gilmore is a true and proven champion of education. His dedication

and expertise have been tremendous assets to the entire school community, and his genuine love

of learning has not only helped hundreds of children to succeed, but has now earned him the

praise and admiration of his peers; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Brian Gilmore on the prestigious honor of being named the “First Year

Principal of the Year” by the Rhode Island Association of School Principals. We wish him the

very best of health, happiness, and success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Brian Gilmore, Principal, Birchwood

Middle School.

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