Notes from Commissioner Infante-Green
Connected to Our Communities
Right now, all across America, families are struggling to make the best decisions regarding the education of their children this year. Families know that the COVID pandemic is real, and that there are no guarantees that it won’t affect their kids or the rest of their families. But they also know that every day in the classroom is a precious opportunity to prepare for lifelong success.
While schools always have an obligation to stay engaged with their families, it is imperative to stay connected during these challenging days. We saw it first hand during distance learning; school communities were at their best when they came together to ensure students had the technology, emotional supports, and individual attention needed to make the most of a difficult situation.
This week, when the Governor and I announced the two-week delay of the first day of school, we were responding to what we have heard from our school leaders: We need more time to put our plans in place, and we need more time to engage with our communities.
Our goals remain to open school safely and to make the most of every day on the school calendar. To get there, we need to remain in constant communication with the people who trust our schools to take care of their children.
Over the next few weeks, we at RIDE will be working closely with our districts, charters, and state-run schools to make sure their plans are ready to go on Day One. But we will also be working with them to make sure they have the tools and plans in place to share the latest with their school communities, listen to the concerns and questions that parents and caregivers have, and respond thoughtfully to issues as they arise.
Engaged communities thrive, and we will do all we can to ensure that Rhode Island sets an example for how to stay connected and make school happen for our children.
Angélica
REMINDERS:
World Class Talent
RIDE Announces Free Professional Learning Offerings for Educators
RIDE continues to commit to helping RI schools and districts strengthen their professional learning systems and practices. Therefore, we have compiled
a diverse list of no-cost options for professional learning
available to RI educators throughout the week of August 24-28, 2020.
We hope both the synchronous and asynchronous offerings provided around health, safety, wellness, and instruction will enhance opportunities for educators, administrators, and staff alike.
To maximize time now afforded to educators due to the the later start to the school year, we are working with our providers to determine if they can repeat their synchronous offerings, and/or offer new options, also during the week of 8/31-9/4.
Therefore, we encourage users to revisit this list throughout the next couple of weeks for the latest information on professional learning offerings. And in order to determine whether or not an offering is suitable, given an individual’s role and/or position, we advise LEAs to share accordingly with their relevant personnel.
Please email PL@ride.ri.gov for any professional learning questions or concerns.