Michael R. Volonnino, Ph.D.
Education
Ph.D., Education Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2013
• Focus in Planning and Policy
• Dissertation: Performance Pay as a Human Capital Strategy
• Primary Research Interests: Human Capital Development, Measuring Teacher Effectiveness, Strategic Compensation Reform
M.Ed., Education Administration, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 2007
A.B. American History, Magna Cum Laude, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 2001
• Honors Thesis: Loss of Public Spaces and White Flight Out of Brooklyn, NY
• Charles Warren Fellow, 2000
Diploma, Regis High School, New York, NY, 1997
School Leadership and Teaching Experience
Principal, Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree, MA 2014-Present
• Led the academics and daily operations for an independent, college preparatory, Grades 7-12 co-educational Catholic school of 765 students, up from 515 in 2014.
• Partnered with the President in planning and executing almost $20 million in capital improvements including a renovated Cafeteria, Athletics Facilities, Auditorium, Science Lab, Middle School Classroom Building, and overall campus beautification.
• Opened a Grade 7 & 8 Program, which has grown from 41 to 160 students
• Served on the Board of Trustees Catholic Identity, Educational Program, Enrollment and Retention, Institutional Advancement, and Marketing Committees
• Partnered with Boston College to implement a Catholic-focused diversity initiative
• Helped lead to strategic planning initiatives as well as the self-study for an overwhelmingly successful NEASC re-accreditation.
• Implemented a new teacher evaluation system, T-Eval with RCAB
• Oversaw the expansion of the Arts, Drama, and Campus Ministry programs.
• Reorganized the administrative structure to improve academic rigor and student life.
• Attended four international student recruitment trips to China
Adjunct Professor, PACT Program, Providence College, Providence, RI, 2021-Present
• Courses Taught: Introduction to Teaching (Summers 2021-2025), Teaching Internship I, II, III, and IV (Fall 2021-2023, Spring 2022-2024)
Assistant Head of School, St. Michael Catholic Academy, Austin, TX 2012-2014
• Served as Interim Head of School from February 2013-July 2013.
• Supervised faculty of 43 and was responsible for professional development as well as the oversight of curriculum and instruction for the oldest Catholic high school in Austin.
• Initiated an Honor Code for the 2013-2014 school year.
• Created the guidelines and templates to re-write school curriculum as part of compliance with TCCED accreditation.
• Taught AP United States Government and Politics and founded the SMCA Debate Team.
Social Studies Teacher, Pequannock Township High School, Pompton Plains, NJ 2002-2008
• Served as Department Chair, 2006-2008
• Co-led the district redesign of the social studies curriculum.
• Wrote curriculum for US History I, US II, AP US Government & Politics, AP US History
• Served on the district discipline committee and teacher evaluation committee.
• Courses taught: US History I & II, AP US History, AP US Government & Politics, Government, Economics, World History, Social Studies and the Internet
• Co-curricular Activities: JV Ice Hockey Coach, Academic Decathlon Coach, Chess Club
• NJEA Local Representative
Professional Engagement and Governance
Board of Directors Member, EVKids, Boston, MA, 2021-Present
• Board Member for a leading Boston-based non-profit that mentors low-income students, pairing them with students from area elite colleges including Harvard, BC, and Northeastern.
Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Education (ILEE), Cohort 3, 2025-2026
• Two-year cohort program for Catholic school leaders across the country focusing on leadership development, spiritual growth, and sharing of innovative practices.
NEASC Accreditation Visit Team Assistant Chair, Xavier High School, Middletown, CT, Fall 2019
NEASC Accreditation Visit Team Member, Immaculate High School, Danbury, CT, Fall 2018
Emmaus Leadership Program, Boston College, 2015-2017
• Two-year program for Catholic school leaders nationwide focused on refining competencies across major domains of school leadership
Additional Education Experience
Executive Master Teacher, Institute for Public School Initiatives, Austin, TX 2011-2012
• Wrote and edited the Social Studies section of onTRACK, a state-funded series of online courses for all Texas students covering the new state standards.
Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Public School Initiatives, Austin, TX 2008-2011
• Provided technical assistance to over 300 Texas districts participating in the District Award for Teacher Excellence grant, a state-level strategic compensation program.
• Designed and conducted workshops throughout Texas on designing and implementing a performance pay program.
Consultant, Lighthouse Charter Schools, Framingham, MA 2010-2011
• Wrote curriculum and course guides for US History II, US Government, and Economics according to Grant Wiggins’ Understanding by Design model.
• Led workshops on the advanced use of course guides, objective writing, and social studies instructional strategies at Lighthouse Charters’ Annual Summer Institute in July 2011.
Graduate Research Assistant, LBJ School of Government, Austin, TX, 2010-2011
• Worked on Project on Educator Effectiveness and Quality (PEEQ), which has a state grant to design a metric to evaluate educator preparation programs.
• Researched methods of evaluating teacher effectiveness and assisting with the design of a value-added model for beginning teachers.
Teaching Assistant, University of Texas at Austin, Austin Texas, 2009-2010
• Advanced Quantitative Research Methods, Dr. Jeffrey Wayman, Spring 2010, Fall 2010
• Foundations of Education Policy, Dr. Julian Vasquez-Heilig, Fall 2009
Technology & Pre-Algebra Teacher, St. Michael Elementary School, Cranford, NJ 2001-2002
• Courses taught: Technology for Grades K-8, 6th Grade Pre-Algebra
Publications & Presentations
Volonnino, M. (2022, April). Bishops block: A flex schedule that meets the needs of all learners. Presentation accepted for the 2022 NCEA Convention and Expo.
Volonnino, M. & Morris, D. (2021, April). Using circles to navigate difficult discussions. Presentation at the 2021 NCEA Convention and Expo (pre-recorded virtual).
Volonnino, M. & Mathews, G. (2020, April). Mentoring the Catholic way. Presentation accepted for the 2020 NCEA Convention and Expo (canceled by COVID-19 shutdown).
Volonnino, M. & Mathews, G. (2020, Spring). Excuse me do you have a minute? Mentoring the Catholic way. NCEA Momentum.
Volonnino, M. & Mathews, G. (2019, July). Unlocking the department chair to drive instructional improvement. Presentation at the 2019 NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders.
Volonnino, M, Kelly-Landis, J., & Filer, D. (2012) Performance pay as a human capital strategy: Evidence from Texas. Paper presented at the American Educator Research Association 2012 Annual Meeting.
Wayman, J. C., Spikes, D. D., & Volonnino, M. (2012). Implementation of a data initiative in the NCLB era. In Schildkamp, K., Lai, M. K., & Earl, L. (Eds.) Data-driven decision making in Education: Challenges and opportunities. Springer.
Vasquez Heilig, J., Dietz, L. & Volonnino, M. (2012). From Jim Crow to the Top 10% Plan: A historical analysis of Latina/o access to a selective flagship university. Enrollment Management Journal: Student Access, Finance, and Success in Higher Education
Volonnino, M, Zavadsky, H., Barkowski, E, & Turner, M., (2010). More than merit: Case studies in strategic compensation reform. Paper presented at the American Educator Research Association 2010 Annual Meeting.
Volonnino, M, Brown, J.A., Stroub, K., Spikes, D., & Kim, S., (2010). Are incentives enough?: A preliminary look at one urban district. Presentation at the American Educator Research Association 2010 Annual Meeting.
Certifications
MA Principal (Initial), NJ Standard Teaching License for Social Studies, NJ Principal & Supervisor License (Provisional)