Leadership

Cassandra Henderson

Cassandra Henderson is the current Principal at Asa Messer Elementary School. She has been working in education for over 20 years, the last four years in the Providence Public School District (PPSD). Prior to coming to PPSD, Cassandra worked in Washington, D.C.

Cassandra earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She then received her Master's in Education in Counseling Psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete the Special Education Retooling Program at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and completed the Georgetown Innovation and Leadership Program.

Cassandra's vision for Asa Messer Elementary School is that Asa Messer is a school of many cultures that provides a vibrant and affirming community for students. It's a community that supports student agency and building pathways to critical and creative thinking. Students will engage in joyous and rigorous academic content that enables them to pursue college or career pathways following graduation. The school community will provide a nurturing, safe space where students can take risks in their journey of transformation into powerful contributing citizens. 

Karleen Keefe

Karleen Keefe is the Assistant Principal at West Broadway Middle School. She has worked in education for 32 years, all with the Providence Public School District (PPSD). Upon graduating from college, Karleen was hired as director of the Summer Program at the West End Community Center. While there, she fell in love with the students and that ignited her journey as an educator in PPSD.

After two years as a substitute teacher, Karleen was hired in 1993 as a full-time teacher for MLL students. She taught 5th grade at Windmill Elementary School (now the Narducci Learning Center). During this time, Karleen worked with several community organizations, including the Indo-Chinese Advocacy Project and DCYF to help troubled juveniles find a better path. After three years at the elementary level, she took a leap of faith and decided to work at the middle school level.

In 1997, Karleen began a 14-year career at Bridgham Middle School (currently Asa Messer Elementary School) where she taught ESL and English. Upon the closing of BMS, she was hired at DelSesto Middle School in 2013. Karleen was excited to be back in the West End neighborhood and assist in opening a middle school. She was hired as an English teacher, Teacher Leader, and eventually became Dean of Students. Karleen began to pursue her degree in administration, which has brought her to her current position as Assistant Principal at West Broadway Middle School.

Karleen earned her Bachelor's degree in English and her Master's of Education in Educational Leadership from Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island. She received her Elementary Education Certification, Middle School Endorsement, and English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement from the college as well.

In her 32 years, Karleen is thankful to have met and worked alongside extremely talented educators and administrators. She has learned more from her students than she could have ever imagined. Their ability to persevere has given Karleen the motivation to continue working to provide the leadership they deserve.

"No Significant Learning Occurs without a Significant Relationship." - Dr. James Comer