Leadership
Email: tonya.costa@ppsd.org
Phone: 401-278-0504
Qualifications: Bachelors: Elementary Education & Bilingual Spanish Endorsement - Rhode Island College Special Education Degree - Providence College Masters: Urban Multicultural Special Education with a Concentration in ESL - Rhode Island College Administration Certificate through CLEE: Principal Residency Program
Tonya Costa
Tonya Costa is the current Principal at Alfred Lima Elementary School. She has served the students of the Providence Public School District (PPSD) as a Bilingual Special Education Teacher and now Principal for 23 years. During her college years, she studied abroad in Mexico and Puerto Rico where she learned Spanish.
Tonya earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Bilingual Spanish Endorsement from Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island. She received her Special Education Degree from Providence College, and then earned her Master's in Urban Multicultural Special Education with a Concentration in ESL from Rhode Island College. Tonya received her Administration Certificate from the Center for Leadership for Educational Equity (CLEE) through the Principal Residency Network.
Tonya's vision for Alfred Lima Elementary School is to create an environment that supports students, families, and educators through collaborative partnerships with local universities and community agencies. Her goal is to provide equitable access to high quality urban education and social emotional services for students and families of all cultures and backgrounds.
Email: kelli.goodwin@ppsd.org
Phone: 401-278-0504
Qualifications: Bachelors: Special Education and Concentration in Elementary Grades 1-6 - Rhode Island College Masters of Education (M.Ed): Special Education with a concentration in Urban Multicultural Education Certifications: Special Education Building, Building Administrator & Curriculum Administrator
Kelli Goodwin
Kelli Goodwin is the current Assistant Principal at Alfred Lima Elementary School. She has worked in the Providence Public School District (PPSD) for 27 years, the last two as Assistant Principal at Lima. Prior to becoming an Assistant Principal, she was a high school Special Educator, a grade 3-5 general education teacher, and an elementary Special Education Support Specialist.
Kelli earned her Bachelor's degree in Special Education with a concentration in Elementary Special Education from Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island. She participated in AmeriCorps and earned her Masters of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Urban Multicultural Education.
Kelli's vision for Alfred Lima Elementary School is to prepare students to be life-long problem solvers given any situation, by ensuring rigorous equitable learning opportunities, collaboration with peers and to develop each student as an individual to obtain their desired potential of success throughout their lives.
Email: Suzanne.DaSilva@ppsd.org
Phone: 401-278-0504
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree -Bryant University, Management & International Studies
Master's degree - Rhode Island College (RIC), Elementary Education
Rhode Island College (RIC), ESL Endorsement
PPSD Leadership Cohort
Suzanne DaSilva
Suzanne DaSilva joined Alfred Lima Elementary School as our new Assistant Principal for the 2025-2026 school year. Ms. DaSilva joins Lima from Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex, bringing over 20 years of extensive educational experience within the Providence Public School District as well as in Pawtucket and Cranston.
Ms. DaSilva’s educational philosophy is deeply aligned with our values. A tri-lingual urban educator, she is committed to continuing to provide our students with rigorous standards-based instruction that is rooted in equitable outcomes and represents the cultures of our community. A fierce advocate for MLLs and their educational success, honoring all our learners has been her passion as an educator and school leader. The relationship between school and home is of utmost importance to Ms. DaSilva. She works to build bridges rooted in trust and collaboration. In addition, she believes in being joyous, present, visible, and dedicated to a positive student-centered school environment.
Ms. DaSilva holds a Bachelor's degree in Management & International Studies from Bryant University and a Master's degree in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College (RIC). She holds an ESL Endorsement from RIC and also completed the PPSD Leadership Cohort program.