Meet Dan Kelley

Daniel P. Kelley is the veteran principal of Smithfield High School in Smithfield, RI.  He is an educator, instructional leader, and innovator. Dan served as president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) during the 2017-2018 school year and was a member of the NASSP Board of Directors for five years. He has served as a high school assistant principal; a high school and middle school special education teacher; and a middle school math and science teacher.  He was named the Rhode Island Secondary Principal of the Year in 2012.

As a leader in education, Dan believes in challenging current instructional practices to provide creative and effective opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. He is passionate about educational leadership that builds strong relationships with faculty and the community, utilizing social media to foster connections between educators, and establishing Personal Learning Networks for collaboration and professional development.

Click here for Dan’s Philosophy of Education.

Leadership Experience

 

  • SMITHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    Smithfield, RI
    Principal, Smithfield High School
    July 2006-present
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  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (NASSP)
    President, Board of Directors
    July 2017-2018
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  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (NASSP)
    Board Member – Region
    Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
    July 2013-2017
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  • CRANSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    Cranston, RI
    Assistant Principal, Cranston High School East
    July 2003 – June 2006

Teaching Experience

 

  • TIVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    Tiverton, RI
    Special Services Teacher, Tiverton High School
    August 2001 – August 2002
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  • SOUTHGATE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
    Southgate, MI
    Special Services Teacher, Davidson Middle School
    August 1998 – August 2001
     
  • SPRINGFIELD CITY SCHOOLS
    Springfield, OH
    Sixth Grade Teacher
    Clark Middle School
    August 1997 – August 1998

Certifications

  • RI – Professional Middle/Secondary School Principal, (8/31/2024)
  • RI – Professional Superintendent of Schools PK-12, (8/31/2024)
  • NAESP National Mentor Certification, (3/31/2022)

Honors & Awards

  • National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, 2017 – present
  • RIASP – Rhode Island High School Principal of the Year, 2012
  • RIEMA – Wilfred Berube Award for Administrative Excellence, 2011
  • RIIAAA – School Administrator of the Year, 2009

Education

  • NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
    Boston, MA
    Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
    January, 2015
    Educational Leadership & Management
  • PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
    Providence, RI
    Master of Education
    May, 2003
    Concentration in Secondary Administration
  • BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Bowling Green, OH
    Bachelor of Science in Education
    May, 1997
    Elementary Education, Concentration in Mathematics
    Special Education, Concentration in Specific Learning Disabilities

Professional Affiliations

  • Rhode Island Instructional Leadership Academy, 2017 – present
  • League of Innovative Schools, 2011 – present
  • New England Secondary Schools Consortium, 2011 – present
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2007 – present
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals, 2003 – present
  • Rhode Island Association of School Principals, 2003 – present
  • Rhode Island Association of School Principals – Executive Board Member, 2007 – 2009
  • Rhode Island Interscholastic League-Principals Committee on Athletics, 2007 – 2012