Home Nonprofit & Education Education Five Questions with: Amy Gravell

Five Questions with: Amy Gravell

By

James Bessette

-

08/15/2024

AMY GRAVELL, a St. Mary Academy – Bay View alum, was formerly the managing director of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre in Warwick before becoming Bay View’s president in March 2023. / COURTESY ST. MARY ACADEMY – BAY VIEW

Amy Gravell is the president of St. Mary Academy – Bay View, an all-girls Catholic secondary school in East Providence. This upcoming academic year, Bay View will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Gravell spoke with Providence Business News about her transition of leading The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre to leading Bay View, and plans for the school’s

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Amy Gravell is the president of St. Mary Academy – Bay View, an all-girls Catholic secondary school in East Providence. This upcoming academic year, Bay View will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Gravell spoke with Providence Business News about her transition of leading The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre to leading Bay View, and plans for the school’s 150th. PBN: More than a year ago, you were The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre’s managing director. Why did you choose going into education as your next step in your career? GRAVELL: I am fortunate to have been a student at and worked in many places that were founded by women, for women. So, as a St. Mary Academy – Bay View alumna, this move felt like coming home. I owe much of my professional success, as well as my personal beliefs and values, to my Mercy education at Bay View, and seeing the tremendous young women that are graduating each year tells me that Bay View has continued its legacy of educational excellence and empowerment of young women. There has been a strong thread of education-centered programming at nearly all of the organizations I’ve worked, including The Gamm Theatre. And while leaving The Gamm was a difficult decision, this next step in my career was truly a coalescence of all of my professional and educational experience. PBN: What experiences/lessons during your time working in the nonprofit sector have you now applied to your current role at Bay View? GRAVELL: Working in the nonprofit sector has taught me many valuable lessons. Be honest - transparency builds trust and aligns expectations. Lead by example and never ask your team to do what you wouldn't do yourself, which is crucial to fostering respect and collaboration. Don’t put off the hard conversations - addressing tough issues directly is crucial for a healthy work environment. Flexibility and resilience are essential in navigating limited resources and challenges. And more than anything, I’ve learned the importance of building and stewarding relationships - that the strength of community lies in the strength of the connections we have with each other. Connecting with people who share a love for an amazing mission fuels me each and every day. PBN: This year marks Bay View’s 150th anniversary. What will the school be doing to mark the occasion, both celebratory and educationally? GRAVELL: The year ahead promises to be extraordinary! On Bay View’s birthday [Sept. 8], a Mass at the Cathedral will be celebrated by Bishop [Richard G.] Henning, with an on-campus cookout to follow. Our 150th Anniversary Gala is on Nov. 16, for which all proceeds will be invested in scholarships to support girls' education. We are also producing a documentary charting Bay View’s storied past that will be premiered in March, Women’s History Month. I am especially looking forward to involving each of our students in the year-long celebration. There will be many opportunities for our girls, including completing 150 Acts of Service [Middle and Upper School] and 150 Acts of Kindness [Lower School]. For more information about our 150th, please visit: bayview150.org. PBN: What in your opinion is the biggest challenge that Bay View, and local private secondary schools, is currently facing? How is Bay View responding to it? GRAVELL: There is a great deal of school choice in Rhode Island, which, coupled with a declining population of students, challenges enrollment for each of us. For Bay View specifically, hesitation about an all-girls education can also deter people. However, when parents and girls visit our campus they immediately feel the sense of community that exists here. Among the benefits of a Bay View education are: 100% graduation rate and 100% college acceptance, a science curriculum and labs that set Bay View apart, a public health and life scholars program, access to tremendous visual and performing arts, and 19 varsity sports including crew, a sport that opens up many opportunities for college scholarships. Bay View students are self-confident, compassionate, and independent leaders, all hallmarks of an all-girls Mercy education. At Bay View we offer girls the opportunity to thrive in an environment specifically tailored to their needs. PBN: Costs for private secondary education continue to rise. What initiatives is Bay View implementing to help make it affordable for families to send their children to the school? GRAVELL: More affordable than many other independent schools, tuition is still a challenge for many families. Greater than 50% of Bay View students receive financial aid and merit scholarships, which are funded by a commitment from the school each year, as well as several endowments and gifts from generous donors. Our approach to a financial aid package, much like everything you will find at Bay View, is very personalized, and our knowledgeable staff are here to help families navigate the process. I encourage families to visit us at our open house on Oct. 20 to learn more. James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.