2019 -- H 6248

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LC002906

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MR. CHRISTOPHER

N. MAHER FOR HIS EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVICE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Diaz, McKiernan, Williams, and Slater

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Christopher “Chris” N. Maher began his distinguished education career

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more than two decades ago as a teacher at Green Oaks Family Academy in East Palo Alto,

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California. Since then, Mr. Maher has established himself as a leader in the education sector,

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having worked as a principal, teacher, and district administrator, as well as in leadership roles at

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educational advocacy organizations; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2012, Mr. Maher joined Mass Insight Education as a Vice President of

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field engagements for the Boston-based nonprofit that aims to increase achievement for

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underserved students. He moved into increasingly higher leadership roles and rose to become

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President of the nonprofit, where he provided guidance to school districts around the country,

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including Providence; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Maher became the Providence Public School District’s Interim

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Superintendent in 2015 and became Superintendent nearly a year later, and he has dedicated the

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past four years of his professional career to serving the students in the Providence Public Schools;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Under Mr. Maher’s direction and guidance, the Providence Public School

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District prioritized educational equity and student voice; made great strides in expanding

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culturally responsive, personalized learning to a majority of the district's schools; collaborated

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with students and community partners to create an ethnic studies curriculum in high schools;

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increased resources and family outreach to English Learners; and positioned the district as a state

 

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leader in social emotional learning; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Maher spearheaded efforts to provide more resources and decision-

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making powers at the school level, first by streamlining the central office, redeploying central

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office staff to the schools, and implementing a number of school-based autonomies; and

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     WHEREAS, Additionally, Mr. Maher has been a passionate advocate for addressing

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issues such as equitable education funding, chronic absenteeism, suspensions, and summer

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learning loss; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Mr. Christopher N. Maher on his term as the

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Superintendent of the Providence Public School District after more than twenty years of

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distinguished and meritorious service as a public servant and educator; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Christopher N. Maher.

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LC002906

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