Chris Triolo in December became the new principal of the Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs. He recently answered several questions regarding his work experience as well as his goals as the school’s new leader.
Q. What first drew you to education as a profession?
A. My high school biology teacher took an invested interest in my success. Her class was always challenging and engaging but she took the effort to ensure that all of her students were successful. While I always received good grades in my science classes, I never really enjoyed the subject until her class. Because of her impact, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in biology. From there, I found that it wasn’t just the science that intrigued me most but helping others understand the content. So I pursued a teaching opportunity in a private school in Statesville, N.C. From there I moved to Charlotte, N.C., where I served as a science teacher in a drop-out prevention program.
Q. Why did you decide to become a school administrator?
A. As a teacher, I had the opportunity to serve in various leadership capacities such as School Leadership Team Chairperson, Department Chair, and Faculty Advisory Committee Chair. After teaching for nine years, however, I realized that I wanted to make a larger impact on student achievement by working with other teachers and parents. As principal, it is my job to ensure that every student has a great teacher, every teacher has the support necessary to meet the needs of their students, and parents and community members are active and engaged in the school community.
Q. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an educator/administrator?
A. As principal of Morehead Elementary, I was charged by the district and school community to refocus the school on its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) magnet theme and expand the program from a traditional preK-5 program into a K-8 school. The school was renamed Morehead STEM Academy in 2010. Over the span of two years, the program went from being unknown to one of the most sought after magnet programs in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools with a waiting list of over 750 students, double our occupancy. This growth and interest was a result of our focus on instruction and work to ensure the rigorous application of our STEM theme throughout our entire program. The most impressive result of this hard work was our academic gains. Along with making AYP for both academic years, our proficiency rates in science increased over 20 percent, reading over 10 percent, and math over 12 percent.
Q. What got you interested in coming to work at Riverwood?
A. It has always been a goal of mine to return to the high school setting. Fulton County is doing great things and Riverwood has a very positive track record. Being the principal at Riverwood is an opportunity for me to grow in the area of IB and the charter system. In turn, I am excited to support the program through my experience in curriculum and instruction, STEM education, and experience leading and garnering strong community support for a magnet program.
Q. How would you describe the interview process?
A. Overall it was a very thorough experience. While a committee interview is always a daunting experience, the questions asked were a testament to the district’s focus on strong instructional leadership. Overall, however, it provided me an opportunity to share my passion for quality instruction for all children.
Q. What have you observed about the local community that you find interesting or noteworthy?
A. It is clear there is strong community support for Riverwood. I look forward to learning from the different stakeholders and working with each group to best meet the needs of all our students. While there was great parent interest at my previous school, we were also a district-wide magnet which restricted the amount of parent / community interaction as many children rode the bus a considerable distance to attend.
Chris Triolo, principal of Riverwood International Charter School
Age: 36
From: Newton, Pa.
Work experience: Principal at John Motley Morehead Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Academy Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, from 2009 to 2011, Science Specialist – Curriculum and Instruction Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, 2007 to 2009, science teacher at Hawthorne High School / TAPS Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools – 1999 – 2007
Education: specialist’s license from Eastern Carolina University in North Carolina, a Master’s of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from Winthrop University in South Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bryan College in Tennessee.
Q. What is your plan for keeping parents engaged in the educational process at Riverwood?
A. Clear communication is key. Parents cannot get involved in events if they are not aware of what’s happening at the school. Moreover, parents cannot support the school if they do not know the needs of the school. Parents also need to have an avenue to share concerns and feedback. Once I start we will examine current means of communication and make adjustments as necessary to ensure clear, consistent, two-way communication is available.
Q. What is your plan for motivating students to be successful?
A. I believe students thrive when they have a personal connection to a mentor in the building. While this can be a classroom teacher, it can also be their counselor, coach, elective teacher, or club sponsor. We all have a vested interest to ensure each child is successful. Academically, students need to be supported through instruction that is effectively differentiated and rigorous. A good teacher works to make sure instruction is relevant and engaging on a daily basis.
Q. Do you plan to implement any new programs/initiatives that haven’t been tried at Riverwood before?
A. At this point it’s too early for me to identify what to change or add. I value the inquiry process and the importance of STEM education and I am confident they will be a part of my work at Riverwood. As I mentioned at the Foundation Luncheon, I am committed to a “Look and Listen” period to fully understand the strengths and challenges at Riverwood. This is an exciting time at for the community and I am eager to get to work on behalf of our students.
