It is a
great honor for me to serve as Rhode
Island’s Commissioner of Elementary
and Secondary Education. I look
forward to working together with
those who know our students best –
parents, educators (including
teachers, principals,
superintendents, and school
committees), and the students
themselves – to improve education in
our state.
During
my first 100 days as Commissioner, I
will review the performance and
needs of our students, teachers, and
schools and the state education
policies and programs. I will visit
every school district in the state,
and I will meet with many Rhode
Islanders to learn about our
successes and about the challenges
that lie ahead.
Working
with the Board of Regents and RIDE
staff, I will use what is learned
from this outreach to prepare an
action plan with specific goals to
guide our work this year and beyond.
I will share this plan with the
people of Rhode Island. I want, and
expect, to be held accountable for
results.
Our work
will be driven by urgency for
improvement, confidence in our
future success, and clarity about
where we are now and what our
aggressive goals will be to advance
learning.
As we
begin this work, I assure you that
every decision that we make will be
based on what is in the best
interest of our students.
I
believe that the single most
important factor in the education of
our students is the effectiveness of
the classroom teacher. Teachers are
the solution, not the problem. We
must do everything we can to support
our teachers – to bring in the very
best, to keep the very best, and to
help them to be successful.
Rhode
Island has made progress in
improving its education system, yet
we all can agree that we must do
much more to improve performance for
all of our students. In particular,
we must address our achievement
gaps.
If we
want great schools across Rhode
Island — the best in the world —
then we are responsible for creating
that greatness – all of us. I am
ready to link arms with educators,
leaders, and residents throughout
the state to bring a true education
renaissance to Rhode Island. Join
me.
Deborah
A. Gist
Commissioner