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.
Leadership Experience
- SMITHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Smithfield, RI
Principal, Smithfield High School
July 2006-present - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (NASSP)
President, Board of Directors
July 2017-2018 - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (NASSP)
Board Member – Region
Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
July 2013-2017 - 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 - 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