5Q: Frances A. Gallo

 / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
/ PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

1What is the top priority educators need to focus on in terms of getting high school students ready for the workforce? Educators must focus on preparing and delivering challenging coursework that fully engages the students in their classrooms, building their curiosity to learn more and more. By doing so, high school students will develop the persistence they need to be successful in life.

2Now that you’re retiring June 30, what single experience during your tenure in Central Falls moved the school system forward? There is no single experience during my tenure that can be credited as having moved Central Falls forward. With the approval of the Central Falls School Board of Trustees, the district has enjoyed a confluence of initiatives which have woven together to create a new school fabric, a new culture of learning and for learning. Parental involvement has skyrocketed. … Partnerships are flourishing. Most importantly, our Rhode Island College/Central Falls School Innovation Lab is redefining transformative partnerships and creating new definitions and dimensions for community learning.

3What place does standardized testing have in Rhode Island in the future? There is a place for standardized testing in Rhode Island and in this nation. It simply shouldn’t be in the front and center place it has held in recent years. One test at one given moment should not define a person and certainly not define a young life. Learning is not so linear. Interests and maturity matter, as do experiences. We must push to develop a wider range of ways to take the whole child into account.

4Should there be more school-choice options? School choice is a potent opportunity for families who strive to achieve the best education possible. Just as people are different, every child is different and learns differently. Finding the right school can be a daunting experience for parents. Currently, families living in poverty have very few options.

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5Have preschool options enhanced student achievement in your district? Currently, there are too few preschool options in Central Falls to present data supporting preschool achievement. What we do know anecdotally is our children moving from preschool to join kindergarten enter the year with a higher level of readiness than those without preschool experience. Following directions, holding a crayon, participating in creative centers are where the experience shines forth. Even in a child’s separation from parents/guardians there is a discernable, positive difference. n

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