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.
Thomas E. Keefe - Assistant Dean of Students
BA, History/Comparative Theology, Saint Joseph’s University
MA, Diplomacy/International relations, Norwich University
Mr. Keefe was born in Wakefield and raised in nearby Peace Dale, RI. After attending Msgr. Clarke Grammar School and Bishop Hendricken High School, Mr. Keefe attended Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. While at SJU, Mr. Keefe earned the Lyndon Baines Johnson Award for Congressional Internships and worked at the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Keefe completed his degree in both History and Comparative Theology, then matriculated at Miami University in Ohio where he studied secondary education in social studies. Returning to New England, Mr. Keefe taught English, religion, and history at Espiritu Santo School in Fall River and completed his Master’s in Diplomacy at Norwich University in Vermont. His research focused on genocide, international war crimes and the effectiveness of sanctions.
In seven years at LaSalle Academy in Providence, Mr. Keefe taught scripture, world religions, history, psychology as well as an introduction to law and politics. In addition, Mr. Keefe successfully coached the debate and swim teams to the state and division championships respectfully. Mr. Keefe also facilitates summer educational workshops in social justice for Catholic teachers. Programs have included Border Economics and Human Dignity in El Paso-Juarez and Homelessness and Human Dignity in San Francisco, CA. He is a member of the national Regional Formation Board of the Christian Brothers Conference.
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.
Karissa Thrall - Alumni Relations and Communications Coordinator
BA, Business Administration, St. Michael's College
MBA, Marketing, Bryant University
Mrs. Thrall joins The Prout School with over eight years of marketing experience. Mrs. Thrall utilized her talents for the City of Providence and the Providence Tourism Council. She was instrumental in the development and coordination of local and state-wide events. She has also focused her time and energy in the areas of press conferences, marketing materials and volunteer recruitment.
Mrs. Thrall is a member of the Saint Michael’s Alumni Association and the Moses Brown Alumni Association. She currently participates in annual fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.