Rhode Island Foundation Occasional Speaker Series: Building a 21st Century Education System in Rhode Island
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Printer-friendly versionA series of six forums hosted by the Rhode Island Foundation and co-sponsored by AISR organized to examine local and national best practices in a particular area and to discuss their implications for policy, practice and advocacy, including ways to promote progress and remove barriers in RI communities. This Occasional Conversation series is designed to bring a national speaker in to seed a local discussion on a major issue facing public education in Rhode Island.
AISR Executive Director Warren Simmons describes the purpose of the forum series, the outcome of the first forum, and the theme of the second forum in the series.
Thursday, May 3, 2012 - Third Forum
Video and resources from this forum 
Don Shalvey, Deputy Director, Education, Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation addressed the topic of charter/district collaborations. The panel discussion featured Fran Gallo, Superintendent, Central Falls; Jill Cote, teacher, The Learning Community; Sue Lusi, Superintendent, Providence Public Schools; and Steve Smith, President, Providence Teachers Union.
Feb. 2, 2012 - Second Forum
Video and resources from this forum
Featuring University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Freeman Hrabowski, who addressed the topic of college readiness. Panelists included Sixcia Devine: Johnson and Wales University, Anna Cappucino: Brown University Admission specializing in Math and Science, Todd Flaherty: College Crusade of RI, Victor Capellan: Deputy Superintendent of School Transformation, Central Falls, and Lloyd Matsumoto: URI faculty.
 | Freeman Hrabowski, as seen on "60 Minutes" 11/13/11, Hrabowski: An educator focused on math and science |
Oct. 20, 2011 - First Forum
Presentation by Robert Balfanz, "Building a Grad Nation: Rhode Island 2011-2020." Panelists included Colleen Callahan, director of Professional Issues at the RI Federation of Teachers & Health Professionals; Victor Capellan, deputy superintendent for Transformation at CFHS; Julie Nora, director of the International Charter School in Pawtucket; and Nkoli Onye, executive director of Providence high schools.