2019 -- S 1018

========

LC002904

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

S E N A T 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: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, Metts, Goldin, and Bell

     Date Introduced: June 26, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

educational advocacy organizations; and

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

including Providence; and

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

and

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

 

1

leader in social emotional learning; and

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

learning loss; now, therefore be it

8

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

9

hereby congratulates Mr. Christopher N. Maher on his term as the Superintendent of the

10

Providence Public School District after more than twenty years of distinguished and meritorious

11

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

12

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

13

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

========

LC002904

========

 

LC002904 - Page 2 of 2