PPSD Community Design Teams Announced
Members Represent Cross-Section of Providence Community
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A diverse and well-rounded group of 45 Providence community members have accepted invitations to join one the three Community Design Teams (CDTs) that will help develop a Turnaround Plan for the Providence Public School District (PPSD). CDT members include parents, students, educators, and members of groups such as Parents Leading for Educational Equity, the Latino Policy Institute, and ARISE, to name a few.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with this incredible group of volunteers who have stepped up on behalf of Providence students and families,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “The stakes are high for all of us as we work on a plan that will transform the city’s schools into an effective, supportive, and responsive system. I look forward to the energy and creativity these team members will bring to our efforts.”
Through a series of meetings between December 2019 and March 2020, CDT members will collaborate to develop strategies and actions that will be incorporated in the Turnaround Plan.The three teams, which consist of 15 members each (including co-chairs), will focus on the priorities identified in Commissioner Infante-Green’s vision for education in Rhode Island: World-Class Talent, Excellence in Learning, and Engaged Communities.
RIDE received an impressive 222 submissions to its open call for nominations to serve on the CDTs. An advisory selection panel worked with RIDE staff to evaluate the nominations and identify those who could best represent the breadth of communities and perspectives across Providence. Panel members included:
- Peter Asen, Providence Housing Authority
- Ducha Hang, Rhode Island College
- Diana Perdomo, Office of the Mayor of Providence
- Kyle Quadro, Trauma Informed Learning Organization
- Karla Vigil, The Equity Institute
- Latoya Watts, Providence Parent
“It was a pleasure to be a part of the selection process. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and dedication of the many people who had been nominated to serve on the teams,” said Watts, who is a mother of students and educator in PPSD. “The collaborative process of narrowing down the large applicant pool was a tough one, but I believe those chosen are representative of the communities that make up Providence. I wish the teams all the best as they move forward in this very important work.”
At the December 4 meeting, panel members used a scoring guide to evaluate individual nominations. They also identified nominees who could serve as potential team leaders for the three CDTs. The panel worked with RIDE staff to provide a narrowed list to Commissioner Infante-Green, who made the final decisions on who would be invited to serve on the CDTs.
Nominees who were not included have been invited to participate in a range of other feedback opportunities, including a Community Day on February 29, as part of the process to transform PPSD.
Learn more and stay informed about efforts to transform Providence public schools by visiting www.4PVDKids.com.