VSLP Core Faculty
Ray Proulx
Ray began his career in education as a teacher and coach at Vergennes High School and Barre-Town Elementary School. He then served the Orange-Washington Supervisory Union as Curriculum Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. He was also the Superintendent in two other districts, Barre Town and Essex Town, before moving to higher education as Associate Professor and now Professor of Education at The University of Vermont.
In 1996, he joined the Northeast Regional Lab at Brown University to broaden his work with educators throughout New England. Ray serves on a variety of local, state, and national boards, has presented dozens of professional development and school leadership team workshops, and teaches courses at The University of Vermont and St. Michael’s College. He conducts research on education policy analysis, development, and implementation, and is the author of several articles. Ray earned his BS at Johnson State College, his MA at St. Michael’s College, and his CAS and EdD at The University of Vermont.
John Everitt
John Everitt serves the South Burlington School District as Superintendent of Schools. He has worked as an elementary school teaching principal, high school math teacher, director of a program for children with emotional disturbances, computer consultant, special education teacher and administrator, elementary school principal, and assistant superintendent for curriculum and staff development. John was born and raised in Texas, did undergraduate work in Colorado, and received his Master's degree from the University of Vermont. He is also a 2003 graduate of The Snelling Center for Government Vermont School Leadership Program. He is the President of the Vermont Superintendents Association and on the boards of the Vermont Council for Quality, the Snelling Center for Government, and the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust. John lives with his wife Sandra in Berlin, VT and has two sons and a daughter.
Val Gardner
Val has worked as a teacher and coach, as well as Associate Principal and Principal at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, Vermont. CVU has been recognized at the state and national level for innovative programs. In 1993 – 1994, Val served as the first Principal in Residence in the U.S. Department of Education under Deputy Secretary Madeleine Kunin. Val earned a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Vermont and a Masters from the University of Oregon. She currently serves on the Snelling Center for Government and the Vermont Youth Orchestra Board. In the past she served on the Vermont Economic Progress Council, St. Michael’s College Graduate Advisory Panel. The Snelling Center School Leadership Project Advisory Board, and as President of Vermont Headmasters. Val has been recognized in numerous awards, including the Robert F. Pierce Award for service to youth in Vermont (1984); National Distinguished Principal for Vermont (1990); and has been inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame.
VSLP