EDUCATION

March 25, 2009
The Met School - Media Center

Description

How do we ensure that our children’s education prepares them for a rich and productive life? How do we bring together parents, teachers, administrators, school committees, and state officials to improve our school system? How do we put our children’s education first in light of social issues and budgetary challenges? In this session we explore the kaleidoscope of educational experiences and issues in Rhode Island’s educational system.

In this session participants heard from top education policymakers and administrators; discussed and debated how we achieve equity in education; toured local public and private schools to hear from students, teachers and principals about their greatest successes and challenges, and heard from a group of outspoken students about what they wish every community leader would understand about their educational experience. We also explored Exchange City, a simulated small town environment in which kids learn how communities work.

Objectives

1) To expand awareness of the challenges facing the education system in RI

2) to explore the overall return on investment to the community as a result of funding and resources provided for public education

3) to better understand the expectations placed on students today and some of the ways in which those expectations are being addressed.

Guest Presenters

Peter McWalters
Commissioner, RI Dept. of Elem. and Secondary Education

Anna Cano-Morales
RI Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education and Chair, Central Falls School District

Teri Maia-Cicero
Member, Statewide School Improvement Collaborative and Vice Chair, Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District

Roy Seitsinger Jr
Director of Middle & High School Redesign, RI Dept of Ed

Nancy Diaz Bain
Co-Director, The Met School, Teacher Representative

Melissa Sanchez and James Ehrenberg
12th Grade Students

Rosanna Castro
Providence School Board Member and Program Coordinator, Brown University

Ina L. Anderson, LRI ’05
Annenberg Institute for School Reform

Tehani Collazo
Director of Education Outreach, Brown University

Daniel J. McKee
Mayor of Cumberland, Initiator of Rhode Island Mayoral Academies

Larry Purtill, LRI ’01
President, National Education Association of RI

Alumni Subcommittee: Education Session

Kimberly Jalette '07 (chair)
Leadership Rhode Island

Liane Czirjak ’07
Opportunity ID, Inc

Lori Quaranta '02
Child and Family .

Jill Tobak '06
The C.J. Fox Company