Head of School – Christopher Haskins
Christopher Haskins has been dedicated to educating young people his entire career, including more than a decade as a principal in Rhode Island public schools. He most recently served as Principal of Dunn’s Corners School in Westerly, and he previously was a principal in the Cranston Public School District. Prior to being a principal, he taught English, including English Language Learners, and other subjects in Attleboro, Central Falls, and at the Seven Hills Charter School in Worcester, MA.
Mr. Haskins is a founding board member of the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity, a Rhode Island nonprofit committed to providing leaders with professional development and support equitable outcomes for students in schools. The Center is the home of Principal Residency Network, a principal certification program approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education, as well as the Learning Leader Network, where he has been coaching learning communities for teacher leaders and school leaders across Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 2010.
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
Described as a thoughtful multilingual communicator, supportive colleague, visionary leader, and an equity-focused educator, Ms. Summers brings multiple perspectives and over twenty years of experience to her position as Middle School Principal. She has worked in a variety of roles including English instruction, adult literacy, elementary language arts instruction, expanded learning programs, and family engagement. A graduate of public schools in Pawtucket, Ms. Summers is the first person in her family to attend and graduate college, earning her Bachelor of Arts at Brown University and her Master of Education in School Leadership at Harvard University. While earning her Master’s degree, Ms. Summers worked as Paul Cuffee’s family engagement facilitator, and was instrumental in strengthening the school’s culture and parent-school partnership.
A parent of two Paul Cuffee students, Ms. Summers is personally and professionally invested in student success. She truly cares about engaging all Paul Cuffee families and caregivers in the academic achievement and well-being of their children. Her prior leadership responsibilities as Principal of Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy ES1; one of the highest performing public elementary schools in Rhode Island and as the Regional Director of Operations for Achievement First, a network of high performing charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, have shaped her leadership and instructional vision. She enjoys working collaboratively with teachers and families to support excellence 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”.