The Portsmouth School Committee voted unanimously this Friday to appoint Thomas Kenworthy as the district’s incoming superintendent, effective January 18, 2020.

Dr. Kenworthy has served as Portsmouth’s assistant superintendent since the fall of 2014. During that time, chairwoman Emily Copeland said, he has played an active role in a number of critical areas, including the budgeting process, one-to-one initiative, contract negotiations, planning capital initiatives and social emotional supports for students.

“I guess you could think of the past five years as one long job interview,” Ms. Copeland joked.

Before coming to Portsmouth, Dr. Kenworthy spent four years as principal at North Kingstown High School and was a School and District Visit Fellow with the Rhode Island Department of Education. He also has experience as a middle school principal and high school teacher, and served six years as a non-commissioned officer with the United States Marine Corps. Dr. Kenworthy earned his bachelor of arts in secondary education/social studies from Rhode Island College, his masters of education in school administration from Providence College, and his doctorate of educational leadership and administration from Johnson and Wales University.

“We as a school committee are fully confident that Dr. Kenworthy will be able to hit the ground running as superintendent in January,” Ms. Copeland said.

Dr. Kenworthy takes the place of leaving superintendent Ana Riley, who announced her resignation late last week. Ms. Riley will begin her new role as the deputy commissioner for instructional programs at RIDE next month. After voting to waive the 90-day notice policy, Ms. Copeland took a few moments to acknowledge some of Ms. Riley’s accomplishments over the past five years – including strengthening the budgeting process, bringing fourth grade back to the elementary school level and diving into the instructional minutes deficit. 

“She is leaving the district and administration in a better place,” Ms. Copeland said.