1. What is your assessment of the value of the distance education that students received this spring? In Providence, we made a conscious decision to set high expectations for our students and educators related to distance learning. We also decided to make equity a guiding principle for implementing distance learning. That meant all students needed access to technology. That also meant that every family should know whom to call and where to go for help. We set up a distance-learning call center to field questions and a customer-service outreach group to connect with families on an individual basis.
2. How do you see schools reopening in the fall? Will it be possible to have a traditional school experience? Honestly, we do not want a traditional school experience. Rather, we hope to build on some of the innovations made during this crisis to create a better school experience. My team is working on a number of options for fall, from a modified opening of school buildings to a continuation of distance learning – and many options in between.
3. How are you attracting top teachers to Providence? I need to give credit to the teachers we have. The move to distance learning required unprecedented flexibility and learning on their part, and they rose to the challenge. Their adaptability and commitment have given me great encouragement as we contemplate the change that must come. My team moved up our hiring timelines by a month and a half, with the support of our union leadership. This has helped us accelerate our internal hiring and become more competitive in the external job market.
4. How can Providence improve its curriculum to be culturally relevant and meet the needs of colleges and employers alike? Each student comes to us with their own lived experience. We need to honor and build on those experiences. We hired a chief equity and diversity officer to lead this work. At the high school level, Providence public schools offer an ethnic-studies curriculum that helps students understand the diverse and rich cultures represented in the district. Additionally, this fall, all our K-8 classrooms will transition to an English language arts curriculum that has culturally responsive and reflective materials.
5. How will you draw in the business community to the schools next year? The business community is already on board and has been strategically supporting our distance-learning efforts. Rhode Island Foundation, Brown University and Cox Communications … are helping us ensure our students have home-based Wi-Fi and hot spots.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.