Prospective Superintendent Auger Discusses His 'Vision' For NK Schools

Members of the North Kingstown School Committee met Monday night for a regularly scheduled work session—the sole purpose of which was to interview for the superintendent position .

"The last two years I've had a real education in terms of this end of the work," said Auger referring to the role of superintendent, adding the job has a much broader base in terms of public relations and overseeing a budget. 

"I think I have the talent for that," said Auger. "I like the idea of giving presentations; I don't mind being in front of a group of people and talking about the good things that are going on in this district. That needs to happen more often," he said, adding one of his goals—should he become superintendent—is "to be out in front celebrating."

A product of Woonsocket Catholic schools, Auger earned his bachelor's degree from Providence College and later received his doctorate in English from the University of Rhode Island.

A longtime NK resident, Auger worked alongside former Superintendent Thornton before he left the NK school district to head Cumberland's public schools.

If selected as Thornton's successor, Auger plans to set aside time for "professional days." The professional days would be an opportunity for teachers and administrators to meet and discuss their classroom successes and struggles, Auger said.

"All the learning that I have done as an educator has convinced me that the best way to make school systems work is when people are working in collaboration with one another," he said. "I don't believe teachers or administrators, or any of us working in this profession, necessarily need to be told by outside people how to do our job better."

The best way for teachers to learn is for them "to ask questions all the time," said Auger. "The most important question is 'What am I going to do for the kids that aren't getting it?'" said Auger. "When people are asking those questions together during regularly scheduled time—planning time, professional day—that's a great thing; that's how we get better," he said. "All of the bones of that culture are in place [in NK]."

Furthermore, Auger says he hopes to focus on building relationships in the community and "take the time to make people feel like part of the process.

Problems of leadership occur when you're not communicating," Auger said, adding he has a vision and he is going to try and help others understand what that vision looks like while receiving feedback along the way. 

As for the budget, Auger said it will prove challenging in the coming year and that "saving money isn't something that we can ignore." A large part of his job, he said, would be to help people understand cuts in funding. "There's always a trade off," he said. "The budget just won't balance itself." 

After the work session, members of the school committee met in a private executive session to discuss the interview and how to proceed with the process of securing a new superintendent.