NORTH SMITHFIELD – A town native with a background as both an athletic trainer and physical education instructor has been named athletic director for the North Smithfield Public School District.
Amanda Rodrigues – soon to be Amanda Bean – comes to the position from a recent job in Uxbridge, Mass., where she worked as an athletic trainer. A resident of Cumberland, Rodrigues plans to marry Smithfield native Tyler Bean at a ceremony in town next month.
“She knows our school, she knows our students, she knows our teachers, she knows our program, and she’s just coming in with a tremendous amount of energy to take our athletic programs to a new level,” said Supt. Michael St. Jean in announcing the new hire at a School Committee meeting this week.
Rodrigues earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and physical education from Springfield College, graduating in 2016. During college, she sat on the Student Board for the Eastern Athletic Trainer’s Association representing the state of Rhode Island, also serving as student program chairperson.
After graduation, she worked at a preparatory school for boys outside of Boston, Mass., where she also became the EATA’s Massachusetts Young Professional Representative for the next three years. In 2019, she moved to Oregon, where she worked The Center Foundation Sports Medicine Program as the athletic trainer for La Pine High School. She has also worked per diem for college athletic programs.
But before it all, there was her first job at Camp Phoenix, where Rodrigues served as a counselor for five years, and program director for another five. The town-based summer camp was established through the North Smithfield Recreation Department in 2006.
Rodrigues will fill a part-time position in North Smithfield that has been the focus of much debate in recent months.
She will replace Matthew Tek, who held the position for 17 years while also serving as a health and physical education teacher at North Smithfield Middle School. Tek, who took on the second job for a stipend of $14,000, resigned from the director role this year, but continues his work at the middle school.
Following his resignation, many parents lobbied for a full-time hire, asking the Town Council to fund the position throughout this year’s budget process. The position was ultimately advertised as a 60 percent role with a salary of $51,000.
The daughter of Fatima Rodrigues, an executive assistant for the North Smithfield School Department, the new athletic director stood out in interviews with two separate hiring committees, according to St. Jean.
“She was just spectacular,” St. Jean said.
School officials later noted that Rodrigues plans to dedicate a full-time focus to the role, which is under evaluation and could become full-time position if warranted at a later date.
Football season is here and you can easily hear F bombs being dropped daily at practice FROM ACROSS THE STREET. All I have to do is open a window to hear coach approved, low intelligence language. This is one year after a hazing scandal (shaking my head)……The last AD did little to hold the coaches in this town accountable for their actions. I hope the new AD actively manages ALL OF THEM and does not give them blank checks to do it “their way”. Allowing unchecked authority with minors is a dangerous situation that has gone on for years within this school system. If it continues, it’s just a matter of time before this town faces the ramifications and it won’t be pretty.
To the new AD – you are the manager of all the coaches. Please ACTIVELY MANAGE ALL OF THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS!!!
Wow. This is what riles you up??
Teenage boys on a football team swearing ??? What do you do, watch Mr Roger’s Neighborhood all day at home??
More nonsense from people desperate to create controversy!!
An athletic director’s job is more than full time. To keep this position posted as less, you are asking for turnover.
A Springfield College grad and an athletic trainer sounds like a win for NSHS.
Best wishes!
Agreed! Thrilled to have an SC grad as the AD! Congratulations Amanda.
Make it a full time position and have her schedule the turf field also!