DAN CORLEY, founder and head of school of the Community Preparatory School in Providence, received the 2023 Murray Family Prize for Community Enrichment from the Rhode Island Foundation. With the honor, Corley received $50,000 in recognition of his long commitment to helping Rhode Islanders in need. There are no restrictions on the use of the money.
What does receiving the Murray Family Prize for 2023 mean to you? Receiving the Murray Family Prize is especially meaningful to me since one of my closest friends, Rob DeBlois, was the first recipient. Rob started The UCAP School [The Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program] after visiting Community Prep. Our families became close, and we often vacationed together. I share the observation that he made when he received it. This is not just an award for me but for the thousands of people who have worked hard and given generously to make our dream a reality.
What do you plan on utilizing the $50,000 for? The $50,000 comes in the year that I turn 70 and Community Prep turns 40. June 30 is a special date for my wife, Betsy, and me. Not only is it my retirement date but also our 45th wedding anniversary. We were married in the chapel at St. Michael’s Church in South Providence and had our wedding reception as a picnic in Roger Williams Park. We will use this prize to help fund a retirement/wedding anniversary party. Some will go to fund our retirements. Also, we both have used cars with lots of mileage. The gift may also be needed to buy a car for one of us.
What kind of unique programming and curricula does Community Prep offer students? Community Prep is a grades 4-8 school that prepares students for success in college-prep high school programs, both public and private. We currently have 134 students and 994 graduates. We do our best to “empower our diverse student body to reach full academic and leadership potential while building a beloved community.” We emphasize student goal setting, small group projects, academic rigor, and we offer many opportunities for students to speak publicly. We are also proud of how well our students work together on their sports teams and represent us on field trips. Also, 92% of our Providence students have had the option of attending Classical High School.
Does the school plan to add or expand its academic offerings? If so, in what ways?Community Prep is completing a campaign to build an arts and athletic center. In May, for the first time in 40 years, we will host our entire school community under one roof for gatherings. Also, the board recently voted to expand the grades down to serve students starting from kindergarten. This will allow us to work with students and families earlier, giving them the opportunity to grow and learn within our beloved community. It has been hard over the years to have to say “no” to many students whom we could have accepted at younger ages. This move will take several years, and we’ll need to fund many endowed scholarships.
