Upper School Principal – Genevieve Schultz
Genevieve Schultz is a native of Milwaukee, WI, but has called Providence home for the past five years. She attended the University of Wisconsin where she majored in social work, earned her teaching credential from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and recently completed her MEd in school leadership from Rhode Island College.
Before working at Cuffee, Ms. Schultz taught high school English and coached new teachers in schools across Rhode Island. Most recently, she served as the Academic Dean at Paul Cuffee Upper School. During her time at PCUS, she has grown more committed to ensuring that each PCUS student has the skills needed to be successful after high school, while also building a community that is rooted in social justice, trust, and fun.
Middle School Principal – Andrea Summers
Dr. Andrea Summers is a multilingual communicator, supportive colleague, and visionary leader who brings over twenty years of experience to her role as Middle School Principal at Paul Cuffee School. A proud graduate of Pawtucket public schools, she earned her B.A. from Brown University, her M.Ed. in School Leadership from Harvard University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. Her dissertation, Championing Equity, Encountering Burnout: A Historical Analysis of the Influence of Educational Accountability Policies on Teacher Well-Being, examined how federal accountability policies have impacted both equity goals and teacher well-being.
Dr. Summers began her career in education through roles in English instruction, adult literacy, expanded learning programs, and family engagement. She previously served as Principal of Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy ES1 and as Regional Director of Operations for Achievement First, a network of charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. A parent of Paul Cuffee students, Dr. Summers is personally and professionally invested in the success of all children. She is committed to engaging families as true partners in student achievement and works collaboratively with teachers and caregivers to foster excellence, equity, and well-being in the classroom.
Lower School Principal – Josie Batista
Passionate about education and making a difference in the world, Ms. Batista’s positivity and growth mindset inspire her students and colleagues alike. In the words of one individual who met with Ms. Batista in a recent focus group session, “Josie’s energy is unmatchable and contagious. Her ability to be direct in the best way possible is something I admire. She holds both students and colleagues to the highest of standards.”
Combining her strengths of instructional leadership and positive behavior, Ms. Batista made her transition from Principal-in-Residence to Lower School Building Principal during the 2021/22 school year. Prior to this promotion, Josie completed her second successful year as Dean of Students at Paul Cuffee Lower School. Before advancing to Dean of Students, Ms. Batista was one of the longest serving teachers at Paul Cuffee Middle School. Her sixth-grade humanities students consistently demonstrated high growth in reading and writing.
In addition to completing her Master of Education in School Leadership degree from Providence College, Ms. Batista has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in English from Rhode Island College. She brings 15 years of classroom experience to her building principal role, as well as her expertise as a national facilitator for the Developmental Designs program. Ms. Batista has trained teachers from across the United States, including those from Cuffee, in the classroom practices that integrate academics with social-emotional learning.
In her free time, Josie loves bike riding, trips to the beach, and spending time with family. What she loves most about Cuffee is the strong sense of community. She affectionately refers to the school as “her home”.