Final Race to the Top Report Released; Improvement Seen In RI Education
GoLocalProv News Team
Final Race to the Top Report Released; Improvement Seen In RI Education
The report highlights “what Rhode Island has accomplished over the five years of implementation, what Rhode Island educators have learned in the process, and what work lies ahead,” according to the Rhode Island Department of Education.
“The investments we have made through our Race to the Top initiative show how much we can accomplish when we work in partnership,” said Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist. “Over the span of this grant, we have narrowed several achievement gaps, reduced the dropout rate, and seen evidence that our graduates are better prepared for college. While much work lies ahead of us, the systems we have put into action thanks to Race to the Top funding will continue to improve instruction and to raise student achievement for years to come.”
The report shows that, during the four years of the grant, RIDE has fulfilled the terms of the grant by producing monthly reports that documented progress and challenges, engaging all school districts in meetings to work together on grant initiatives, and more.
The report summarized the lessons that the Department of Education and educators learned while implementing the grant: “Throughout our Race to the Top work, we have learned that implementing complex policy reforms requires a clear focus, problem-solving partnerships among the [school districts] and RIDE, and meaningful communication and engagement throughout the education system. Many challenges are still before us, yet, thanks to the Race to the Top initiative, we remain committed to our essential vision: preparing all Rhode Island students for success in college, careers, and life.”
Who Could Be RI's Next Education Commissioner?
Clay Pell
The not-so-dark horse who might be in consideration for Gist's spot (or the Board of Education's Eva Mancuso's) could be Raimondo's primary opponent Clay Pell, who comes from the education policy world at the federal level -- he was Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Education.
Given the millions Pell poured into his own campaign -- as well as how politics might have played out to give Gina the edge over opponent Allan Fung -- Pell might be well-positioned to maintain his profile in Rhode Island as he more than likely might be taking a look towards another run for higher offfice soon.
Susan Lusi
Current Providence Schools Superintendent Susan Lusi has a resume that includes having been Superintendent in Portsmouth, Chief of Staff for the Providence Public Schools -- and as Assistant Commissioner at the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Lusi has served as a consultant to RIDE, as well as groups such as the LAB at Brown, Education Resource Strategies, The Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Learning First Alliance. Lusi has a Ph.D. and Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, as well as a MAT in social studies and an AB in economics from Brown University. Lusi could well be considered for the call up to the state's top education post.
Tom Brady
Lusi's predecessor in the Providence Public Schoools Brady the helm in 2011 after serving for three years, and has worked in education consulting and served as Director of the Department of Defense Educational Activity, over seeing all Defense Department K-12 schools, both stateside and overseas -- 191 schools in 14 districts, serving more than 82,000 students. A return to RI to fill Gist's shoes would be step up the education ladder in the state should Brady be in consideration -- and have the interest returning to RI.
Angela Romans
Providence Mayor Taveras' former education advisor, who has been at Brown's Annenberg Institute, while in the city helped secure over $5 million in education grant funding from local, regional and national public and private sources for the city and served as a tri-chair of the Mayor’s Children and Youth Cabinet (CYC).
Prior to working in city government, Romans served as New England Network manager at Diploma Plus, Inc., a Boston-based, national organization that in partnership with school districts and communities, designs schools and programs to improve the academic results of predominately urban, African-American and/or Hispanic youth.
Dave Abbott
As the Deputy Commissioner at RIDE, Abbott has had to fill the shoes of Gist at meetings and events many times -- and could probably quite easily make the move up given his working knowledge of the office.
Jennifer Wood
Lt. Governor Roberts' Chief of Staff has an extensive background -- and interest -- in education, serving as Chief of Staff and legal counsel for RIDE for 9 years, and general counsel for NEARI before that. Roberts was an instrumental supporter of Raimondo's during the campaign.
