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

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

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

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

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

educational advocacy organizations; and

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

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

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

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

including Providence; and

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

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

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

and

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

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

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

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

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

leader in social emotional learning; and

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

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

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

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

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

learning loss; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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