Just two weeks after announcing her planned departure, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain will field questions from the community during Wednesday’s “Ask The Superintendent” live virtual conversation.
The monthly discussion, hosted by What’sUpNewp, is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and comes at a pivotal moment for the district. Jermain revealed on October 14 that she will step down effective June 30, 2026, after more than 12 years leading Newport Public Schools.
Wednesday’s 30-minute conversation is expected to touch on the superintendent’s decision to conclude her tenure, along with the typical range of topics including curriculum updates, facility improvements, budget matters, and student achievement initiatives.
“The groundwork is in place and I look forward to watching and seeing great things happen,” Jermain wrote in her resignation letter to the School Committee, citing the ongoing implementation of the district’s strategic plan and efforts to build “instructional excellence and innovation for the future.”
Community members can participate in the discussion by submitting questions in advance through a Google form at whatsupnewp.com/ask-the-superintendent/ or by posting questions in real-time during the live broadcast.
The session will stream simultaneously across multiple platforms, including What’sUpNewp’s website, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube channels. For those unable to watch live, the full conversation will be archived on all platforms.
A Rogers High School graduate who returned to lead her hometown district, Jermain has overseen significant capital projects during her tenure, including the new Pell building addition and improvements to Rogers High School. Before becoming superintendent in January 2014, she held leadership positions in Providence, Portsmouth, Little Compton, and Tiverton.
Her announcement gives the Newport School Committee approximately eight months to conduct a search for her successor—a process that could become a focal point of community interest as the district prepares for its next chapter.
The “Ask The Superintendent” series typically airs on the fourth Wednesday of each month, though scheduling may vary based on availability. Wednesday’s conversation begins at 1:30 p.m.
