Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D., has announced she will step down as Superintendent of Newport Public Schools, effective June 30, 2026, bringing an end to her tenure leading the district.
Jermain notified School Committee Chair James Dring and committee members of her decision in a letter dated Tuesday, October 14, 2025, citing the terms of her amended 2023 contract.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the students and families of Newport,” Jermain wrote in her resignation notice. She expressed gratitude for the community partnerships developed during her time as superintendent, noting the support for major capital projects including the new Pell building addition and Rogers High School.
A Newport native and Rogers High School graduate, Jermain has led the district since January 2014, marking more than a decade at the helm. Her appointment came after a career that included positions as Chief of Staff Performance and Technology Integration for Providence Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent in Portsmouth, and Principal/Superintendent of Little Compton Schools.
Jermain also made history as Tiverton’s first female assistant middle school principal and served as principal of two elementary schools and as a teacher in that district before moving into district-level leadership roles.
In her letter, Jermain highlighted what she sees as a promising future for the district, emphasizing the ongoing implementation of the strategic plan and efforts to build “instructional excellence and innovation for the future.”
“The groundwork is in place and I look forward to watching and seeing great things happen,” she wrote.
Jermain holds a doctorate from Johnson and Wales University, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from the same institution, and a master’s degree in administration and bachelor’s degree in history from Providence College. She has also completed professional development at Harvard Graduate School of Education focusing on change leadership.
Throughout her career, Jermain has been active in educational leadership organizations, serving on the boards of the New England School Development Council, the New England Association of School Superintendents, and the Rhode Island Superintendents Association, where she has served as president. She currently chairs the board for the East Bay Collaborative and serves on various local and community agencies throughout Newport County.
Jermain indicated she would remain available to support the district beyond her departure, saying she would “always be just a phone call away to continue to support and be here for our schools and community.”
The announcement gives the Newport School Committee approximately eight months to conduct a search for Jermain’s successor. She lives in Newport with her husband, Tim.
