Dr. Nkolika Etell Onye
Educator/Innovator/Developer/Equity Warrior
Dr. Nkolika Etell Onye is a first generation Nigerian-American. Nkolika earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University, an MA in Education, from the University of Rhode Island, and a BS in Medical Technology from California State Los Angeles. Wife of a retired Army officer, and a mother of three, Nkolika has taught high school chemistry and biology in Los Angeles, CA, Anchorage, AK; Columbus, GA; Riverside, RI, and Providence, RI. She has also served as an instructional coach, and as a high school turnaround principal in several high schools, resulting in well documented, measurable gains and outcomes for students.
A visionary systems thinker, Dr. Onye is known for her unwavering advocacy for equity in education, particularly for young people of color. As a former assistant superintendent for high school reform and performance management, Nkolika has been credited with the design and highly successful implementation of several high impact education reform initiatives in the areas of personalized learning, teacher and principal induction, teacher evaluation, peer assistance and review, and college and career readiness. Dr. Onye recently assumed the position of Principal of Gilbert Stuart Middle School, where she is responsible for leading the transformation of a school of 900 students and 81 staff members.
A member of the first graduating class of the RI National Institute of School Leadership (NISL), Dr. Onye serves as a NISL facilitator and teaches courses in leadership to school and district administrators in RI. In her spare time Dr. Onye loves to read, travel, and dance. She is also very involved in her church where she serves as a trustee and youth director. Additionally, Dr. Onye belongs to numerous professional and community organizations including: National Association of Secondary School Principals, Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, African American Ambassadors Group, OASIS African Center, Nigerian Community of RI, and the African Catholic Community. Dr. Onye believes that it is her duty to empower and equip young people with the confidence, knowledge, and skills they will need to meet and exceed the ever changing and dynamic expectations of our global and complex community.