Business Women Awards 2025
WOMAN TO WATCH SOCIAL SERVICES/NONPROFIT:
Chiara Deltito-Sharrott, Rhode Island League of Charter Public Schools executive director
EDUCATION PREPARES MANY to succeed in life. Chiara Deltito-Sharrott, though, takes it multiple steps further.
Deltito-Sharrott first began her work with charter schools as a senior at Providence College when she volunteered in an after-school program at a charter school through local nonprofit City Year. She continued to explore the field of education with stints in the Providence Public School District and the R.I. Department of Education. Most recently, she managed her own consulting firm, CDS Education Consulting.
So, becoming executive director for the Rhode Island League of Charter Public Schools – the Providence-based nonprofit charged with increasing opportunities and access to high-quality education for students throughout the state – close to two years ago was a perfect fit for her. Deltito-Sharrott’s 13 years of engagement with a wide range of audiences have prepared her for success at the league.
“I was grateful for the opportunity,” she said. “It was daunting but really exciting at the same time. I’m now able to bring together folks who might not normally be in the same room together but need to be.”
Deltito-Sharrott’s current goal is to advocate for better public policies while offering charter schools support to grow and develop so they can best serve their students and the larger community.
“There’s so much room for innovation and collaboration in the education sector here in Rhode Island. It starts by listening to others, then exploring new ideas,” she said.
A critical part of the organization’s mission is to ensure that schools have the tools they need and understand the resources available to them through RIDE and other organizations. To get this work done, Deltito-Sharrott had to lean into her grant writing skills and relationship-building across a broad network of community partners, she says.
Since becoming the organization’s leader, Deltito-Sharrott has tripled its budget and doubled its staff, positioning the league as the voice of the charter school sector in Rhode Island.
“We will continue to grow our capacity to support teachers and students while expanding our impact beyond the walls of charter schools,” Deltito-Sharrott said.
