Gist leaving for Oklahoma superintendent job

R.I. EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Deborah A. Gist is leaving to become superintendent of the Tulsa, Okla., school district. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
R.I. EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Deborah A. Gist is leaving to become superintendent of the Tulsa, Okla., school district. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PROVIDENCE – Deborah A. Gist, Rhode Island’s commissioner of elementary and secondary education since 2009, is leaving to become superintendent of the Tulsa, Okla., school district.

According to a statement released by Gist, the Tulsa School Board on Monday authorized contract negotiations.

“I have enthusiastically agreed to begin these negotiations,” Gist said.

While she said it was a difficult decision for her, as she is proud of what has been accomplished over the past six years in Rhode Island, she said she is excited about the opportunity to lead an urban school district, especially one in the city where she was raised and where her family still lives.

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“I know that Rhode Islanders can certainly recognize the attraction we have to our hometowns, and it would be a special honor for me to lead the district where I attended public school throughout my childhood. I would leave Rhode Island knowing that we have a great team in place at the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) and that we have strong support for improving student learning and achievement and for transforming education,” Gist said.

She said she plans to spend the next few days in Tulsa, and will return to Rhode Island before next week. She will replace the current Tulsa superintendent, Keith Ballard, who is retiring at the end of June.

“So I will continue serving as commissioner for the near future and I plan to work with Governor [Gina M.] Raimondo, the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Education to develop a transition plan for new leadership at RIDE,” Gist said.

Raimondo released a statement regarding Gist’s selection as the new superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, congratulating her on the appointment.

“During the commissioner’s tenure, she raised expectations for Rhode Island students and led significant improvements to educator preparation programs. Commissioner Gist also expanded access to pre-kindergarten and full day kindergarten and enhanced the quality of early childhood education programs throughout the state,” Raimondo said.

“In addition, Commissioner Gist laid the groundwork for our schools to succeed in the 21st century through her focus on technology and innovation in the classroom. She advocated for funds to increase the use of technology to support teaching and learning, and she drove the initiative to bring wireless Internet access to all of our classrooms,” Raimondo continued.

Raimondo said that in the coming weeks, a process will begin to collect community input as officials work to identify a new commissioner.

“We will engage in conversations with parents, teachers, students, school leaders and superintendents across the state about the characteristics needed in our next commissioner to best serve our students and ensure a smooth transition,” Raimondo said.

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