Administration
Gary R. Delneo - Principal
BA, English, Fordham College
M.Ed.,University of Vermont
Mr. Delneo was born and grew up in Pelham Bay in the Bronx, New York, where he attended Our Lady of the Assumption Elementary School. He continued his education under the Jesuits at Fordham Prep and went on to Fordham College where he graduated in 1968 with a B.A. in English. Upon graduation, he married his wife, Janet, and moved to Burlington, Vermont where he taught fifth grade for four years at St. Francis Xavier School and began graduate studies in English at the University of Vermont. In 1972 he started teaching junior high language arts at Hinesburg Elementary School where he remained until 1985. At that time he took a position as a high school English teacher at Rice Memorial High School, a diocesan Catholic high school in South Burlington, Vermont. Mr. Delneo taught English and religion and eventually became athletic director and assistant principal at Rice. In 1998 he graduated from the University of Vermont with a M.Ed. Degree in educational leadership. He left Rice to assume his first principal a position at St. Joseph Catholic School, a 7-12 grade diocesan school in Madison, Mississippi. Mr. Delneo moved to Atlanta in July 2000 to open the high school at Holy Spirit Preparatory School. He eventually became Head of School and later the first President of Holy Spirit Preparatory.
Mr. Delneo comes to The Prout School with 38 years of educational experience. This will be his 28th year as an educator in Catholic schools. Over 14 of those years were in administration. He has been on the pastoral council, including a term as president at Christ the King in Burlington, Vermont, and he has been a Eucharistic minister for the past seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Delneo have three children who have graduated from Fordham College, Vassar, and the University of Pennsylvania respectively. They have two grandchildren.
Michael Sweeney - Assistant Principal, Coordinator-International Baccalaureate Program
BS, Education Major/ History Minor, University of Rhode Island
MA, History, Providence College
Mike is a lifelong Rhode Island resident graduating from Bishop Hendricken High School. He comes to The Prout School with over 16 years of experience working in Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Providence. Mike began his career in education at The Prout School in 1994 teaching in the junior high Social Studies and Religion and later in the high school teaching US History and Western Civilization.
In 2002, Mike was appointed Assistant Principal for Student Life at Saint Raphael Academy. In 2004 he became the Academic Assistant Principal and in 2008 he was appointed Principal. Has served on numerous Lasallian district committees and underwent a 3 year training program through the Lasallian Leadership Institute. In his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, as well as cooking and traveling.
Donna R. Nardone - Business Manager
BS, Business Administration, Bryant University
MBA, Finance, University of Rhode Island
Ms. Nardone joined the Prout administrative team in 1994 and oversees the School's Finances and Facilities. She is the past President of the RI Association of Private School Business Managers and is currently the Assistant Treasurer of the University of Rhode Island - University Club. She is also a Director for the P. Pastore Charitable Foundation.
Jim Pierce - Dean of Students
BA, English, Saint Bonaventure University
MEd, Secondary School Administration, Providence College
Prout’s new Dean of Students, Jim Pierce, is a native of New York where he attended Saint Bonaventure University, studying both English and Education. Relocating to Boston, he first taught English and Men’s Studies at Dearborn Academy, an alternative high school for adjudicated youth and students requiring emotional and behavioral services. Upon returning to New York he taught English at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School before transitioning into the role of Arts-in-Education Director for the nationally modeled, Huntington Arts Council. There he provided outreach for at-risk youth through both traditional and non-traditional education as well as internships. The study of educational models and school reform led him to Providence College where, in 2005, he received a M.Ed. in School Administration. For five years he served as the Assistant Principal for Student Life at Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket. He has also acted as an arts-in-education consultant for various agencies throughout Rhode Island while contributing research articles to the Providence Monthly family of magazines. He has had one piece of short fiction published in a national magazine.
Kristen P. Need - Director of Admissions
BA, Education, Simmons College, MA
Mrs. Need brings to Prout over 12 years experience in Catholic education. She comes from Cluny School in Newport where she was the Athletic Director and physical education teacher for four years. Mrs. Need has 6 years experience in high school administration as Director of Student Activities at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida. She sits on the board of Middletown Youth Soccer Club and is the Varsity Swim Coach at Prout.
Rhonda Skinkle - Chief Development Officer
BA, Economics, Assumption College, MA
Mrs. Skinkle is a lifelong RI resident, graduate of North Kingstown High School. After graduating from Assumption, she returned to RI to join Rich Paper Box, a manufacturing company which sells to retail stores throughout the country. Her years with the company allowed her to experience all aspects of running a business from sales and customer service to finance, payroll and human resources. She hopes to utilize these skills to enhance the Prout Development Office. Her connection to the Prout community began with her son, Eric, a graduate of the class of 2009 and continues today as her daughter Kerri will be in the class of 2015.
Sharon DeLuca-Communications Director
BA, Journalism, Public Relations, University of Rhode Island
Mrs. DeLuca has worked for the last four years as marketing specialist in the Marketing and Communications Department at South County Hospital where her responsibilities included; the production of hospital newsletters, web site writing, media relations, production of brochures and hospital printed material and advertising for hospital service lines. In addition, she was integral in the planning of community outreach activities and events for South County Hospital.
Sharon has a passion for community service, evidenced by her volunteer work for PTO organizations, the South Kingstown Education Foundation, South Kingstown Cares and the Boy Scouts of America. These positions gave her the opportunity to coordinate events and raise funds for these valuable organizations. In addition, Sharon has been a member of the Prout school community for the past six years as a Prout parent, serving several of those on the planning committee for the annual Prout auction.