Joe Crowley has lived the life. He grew up in a housing project, oldest of nine siblings whose father was an alcoholic and whose mother, while trying to do her very best, was overstressed in managing a home and nine children with little help from his father. His father worked as a fireman when doing so involved upwards of seventy hours per week in the fire station but would then, very often over the years, spend his off days and evenings in a bar. He is thankful an aunt and uncle took interest in him and, today, understands the benefits of having caring adults in one's life.

Not having much parent supervision he was able to leave high school without a diploma. Fortunately, he was able to join the U.S. Air Force. A combination of maturation and being given considerable responsibility while in the service led to his desire for a college degree. His first ambition was to be a history teacher but, with his less than stellar high school record, getting into a four year college was out of the question.

Having been exposed to computers while in the Air Force, this was early on in the use of computers, becoming a computer programmer looked like a good path. He was accepted into what was then Johnson & Wales Junior College - on probation because of his high school record. Older and wiser, he graduated second in his class - in high school he had been in the bottom five.

Within a year of beginning a career as a computer programmer/analyst, Joe had the opportunity to teach programming in a public career and technical high school. This led to more education where within five years, while teaching, he was able to earn a baccalaureate degree with high honors and an MBA at the University of Rhode Island - being elected to two national honor societies.

He sees his transition from lacking a high school diploma to an MBA as reflecting the potential that might well be lost as children growing up in poverty environments try to overcome the barriers and find the bridges to work their way out. Inner city schools are loaded with Joes who might or might not break the bonds of poverty.

Over his career, Joe has served as teacher, assistant principal, principal, school district business manager, and, for a time, as an interim superintendent of schools. He has served as president of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, president of the Mass. Association of School Business Managers, and chair of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Technical and Career Institutions. He is currently the executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals serving on a number of education related boards and committees.

He and his wife Kathryn, who is a superintendent of schools, live in Cranston, RI, and enjoy the four children and seven grandchildren they share.