2022 -- H 8342

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LC006113

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING PRINCIPAL KRISTINE MONJE ON THE OCCASION OF

HER RETIREMENT AFTER THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE

STUDENTS OF THE BLOCK ISLAND SCHOOL

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: June 14, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, An enthusiastic and dedicated educator, Kristine Monje has distinguished

herself as a consummate administrator throughout her career in education, and her leadership as

Principal of the Block Island School has not only earned her the admiration of her colleagues, but

also the gratitude and respect of all the young people she has guided for the past thirty-four years;

and

     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from Cranston East High School, Ms. Monje earned her

Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island with a double major in elementary

education and communication disorders. She had grown up in the City of Cranston but became

enchanted with Block Island while spending summers working at the Seaside Market & Deli and

the Block Island Grocery; and

     WHEREAS, In November of 1988, Ms. Monje temporarily set aside her plans to attain

her Master’s degree and took a position as a teacher's aide at the Block Island School and in 1990,

began teaching the fourth grade, a position she held for the next twenty-four years; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Monje eventually did return to school to earn her Master's degree in

speech and language pathology in her late 40’s. She spent two years attending online school at the

University of New England in education leadership, followed by a year off-island at Johnson and

Wales University, where she ultimately completed the Principal Residency Network program;

and

     WHEREAS, After another year of traveling back and forth, working in Matunuck, South

Kingstown and on Block Island, in 2013, Ms. Monje officially became Principal of the Block

Island School and has held the ever position since; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to her leadership at the Block Island School, Ms. Monje is on the

Board of Directors of the Block Island Historical Society. During her well-earned retirement she

will be quite busy with her retail shop, The BeachComber, taxi business, her Airbnb, and

rewriting the Block Island history book for children; and

     WHEREAS, Principal Monje is a paradigm of the very best leadership qualities. Her

genuine love of learning has already helped hundreds of children to succeed and she will be truly

missed by the staff, students, and the entire Block Island school community; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

recognizes and applauds Principal Kristine Monje for thirty-four years of outstanding leadership

and dedication to the students of the Block Island School. We wish her the very best of health,

happiness, and success in all her 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 Ms. Kristine Monje.

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LC006113

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