RI School Commissioner to speak in Warren RI Monday night at 6pm

Following is a letter from RI's new School Commissioner Deborah Gist. She will be in WarrenRI  Monday night and is trying like crazy to get RI schools where they should be.

Dear Fellow Rhode Islanders,

 The federal Race to the Top funds could bring unprecedented resources to Rhode Island to help us transform education. The U.S. Department of Education will distribute these funds to states that have both made progress and shown promise in four vital areas:

 ·       improving teacher effectiveness;

·       accelerating the performance of low-performing schools;

·       establishing world-class standards and assessments; and

·       developing user-friendly data systems.

 These initiatives are closely aligned with the set of priorities and the strategic agenda that I am developing to get all students ready for success in college, careers, and life.

See http://www.ride.ri.gov/Commissioner/

 As we prepare our Race to the Top application, I have scheduled five community forums at which you can learn more about our strategic agenda and present your views on education reform. I greatly value your feedback, which will help us to submit a first-caliber application. We will hold community forums on:

 ·       Monday, November 9th @ 6 p.m., at the East Bay Educational Collaborative, 317 Market St., Warren

·       Tuesday, November 17th @ 6 p.m., at the Northern R.I. Collaborative,  640 George Washington Highway, Lincoln

·       Monday, November 23rd @ 6 p.m., at Toll Gate High School, 575 Centerville Rd., Warwick

·       Wednesday, December 2nd @ 6 p.m., at the Southern R.I. Educational Collaborative, 646 Camp Ave., North Kingstown

·       Forum in Providence, date and location to be announced

 I have attached to this e-mail a letter of invitation to these forums and a flier announcing these forums. Please feel free to distribute both the letter and the flier to others in organization, your school, or your community. If you have any questions, you may call me at 222-4690, or e-mail: Deborah.Gist@ride.ri.gov

 I hope that I will see you and hear from you at our community forums. 

Sincerely, 

Deborah A. Gist

RI School Commissioner