DONAVAN

Af Providence Middle Principal

The waves have come in many forms for Donavan throughout these last few years at Achievement First. Even while starting a new position – in the midst of the pandemic, introducing remote and hybrid learning to his teachers and students, and re-adjusting to in-person learning – Donavan has remained committed to helping his scholars thrive.

With the transition back to in-person learning last year, Donavan has seen a renewed sense of culture and community. Whether through reconnecting with colleagues, meeting with families, or seeing the smiling faces of students in the hallways, Donavan was pleased that remote learning didn’t diminish the Achievement First spirit. Donavan chalks this up to the perseverance of scholars and educators to come together and embrace challenges.

In his nearly ten-year career at Achievement First, Donavan’s worn many hats as an educator – he has led academic departments, inspired student-athletes while coaching basketball, and guided a school throughout a global pandemic. He has led and taught at multiple Achievement First Schools, including Elm City College Preparatory, AF Bridgeport Academy Middle, and Amistad High, before stepping into the role as the principal of AF Providence Middle School in 2020.

Now, as Donavan continues to shepherd his school into a second year of in-person learning, culture and community are at the forefront more than ever. “We are moving in unison to achieve one collective purpose,” says Donavan. He and his team never had to re-imagine or redefine “community,” rather they needed to see, hear, and feel how a community took shape in this new normal.

Many waves but one sea. This guiding principle has helped Donavan focus on building a strong community, made up of many different individuals from varying backgrounds, at Achievement First Providence Middle. A community where kids were blossoming in class, showing their true selves during spontaneous hallway dance parties, and school leaders like Donavan allowed the best parts of the virtual student experience to live alongside the very best parts of the in-person student experience.