350th anniversary of Rhode Island's "lively experiment" in religious freedom
Dr. Joyce Louise Caldwell Stevos, President of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society is a Rhode Island native. She is a graduate of Classical High School, holds 3 degrees from Rhode Island College, and is an adjunct professor in Educational Studies at Rhode Island College.
As a teacher and supervisor of Social Studies in the Providence Public Schools, Dr. Stevos was a leader in implementing the study of Black History, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and law-related education. She was the primary designer of the Government and Law Magnet at Central high School and the Teacher Academy at Mt. Pleasant High School. Dr. Stevos was the Director of Strategic Planning and Professional Development in the Providence Public Schools where she worked with teachers and administrators to begin and implement the first wave of educational reform in the District.
For 25 years, Dr. Stevos worked with different publishing companies in writing and critiquing history and civics texts for middle and high school students. After retiring from the Providence School Department Dr. Stevos worked as a consultant with Trinity Restoration, Inc to develop and incorporate the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts Charter School that opened in 2009 for students from grades 7-12. Dr. Stevos is president of the Board of Trustees.
In giving back to the community, Dr. Stevos has served as President of the Urban League of RI, was an incorporator and officer of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and has served on the Boards of the Providence Public Library, the Providence Preservation Society, and the Heritage Harbor Board. She is a member and Regent of the Narragansett-Cooke-Gaspee Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.