In The News

Rhode Island League of Charter Schools Announces New Executive Director

The Rhode Island League of Charter Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Chiara Deltito-Sharrott as its new executive director. The executive director is responsible for overseeing the organization’s general development, management, and operations, including all initiatives, strategic planning, membership services, fundraising, financial planning and management, policy activities, communications, board and external relations. Deltito-Sharrott will begin on August 1, 2023.

Those close to the charter school movement know Chiara through her work as the founder of CDS Educational Consulting which, among other projects, has provided charter school support in the way of developing fundraising strategies, strategic planning, charter expansion, and charter renewal. Prior to founding CDS, Deltito-Sharrott worked at the Rhode Island Department of Education as an education specialist for charter school authorizing, and as the state director for the federal charter school program grant. She is also proud to have started her career with the Providence Public School District as a grant writer and development coach.

In addition to her work experience, Chiara is earning an Ed.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, and was previously awarded a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy at Brown University, at which time she interned with Rhode Island League of Charter Schools. Chiara first came to Rhode Island as an undergraduate student at Providence College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Community Service Studies.

“The Board of Directors is enthusiastic about Chiara Deltito-Sharrott becoming its next executive director,” said Christopher Haskins, Chair of the Board of Directors of the R.I. League of Charter Schools and Head of School at the Paul Cuffee School. “In addition to her deep knowledge and experience in the public charter school sector, Chiara has a clear vision that she will use to help bring the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools to a new level of excellence.”

“I am both honored and excited to take on this position,” said Chiara Deltito-Sharrott. “I am committed to bringing my values of adaptability, justice, idealism and collaboration to my work with the League. In stepping into this role, I am looking forward to continuing to put more resources into the hands of frontline leaders and educators making a direct impact.”

The Rhode Island League of Charter Schools’ mission is to advocate for its members by supporting charter public schools as leaders in expanding choice and supporting and informing the public-school reform movement across the state. The League, founded in 2001, is guided by the directors of the member schools and provides a forum for advocacy, sharing of best practices, and collaboration. Our 20 schools are free and open to the public, funded by the public and held accountable to the public. We enroll students through a fair and transparent lottery system, which is open to all students, including many from low income, diverse communities.

Highlander Students Accepted to Student Diplomacy Corp Summer Program

Tegra Mandishona and Olivia Hazard, of Highlander Charter School, were accepted to the Student Diplomacy Corp Summer Program. The Student Diplomacy Corps creates opportunities for underserved high school students from across the nation to access dynamic summer study away programs that build college readiness, deepen empathy and unleash the potential of youth. For four weeks Tegra will be in Italy and Olivia will be in France. Congratulations!

The teacher pipeline is broken. Segue Institute for Learning wants to fix it.

The school’s leaders knew that 100% of the surveyed parents at the K-8 Central Falls charter school wished Segue also offered a high school. They knew that the number of people going into education as a profession is dwindling as pay issues become more daunting. They knew Rhode Island needs more teachers, and even more specifically that Rhode Island needs more diverse teachers, as 89% are white, according to a 2019 report.  In fall 2024, Segue plans to open a high school with a focus on encouraging students to go into the education field, whether as teachers, administrators, counselors or whatever else a school may need. Read more from The Providence Journal here

Best public high schools in Rhode Island include Charter Schools

Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Rhode Island. Several charter schools made the list, including: New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction & Career Academy, Highlander Charter School, Blackstone Valley Prep and The Greene School. Read more from What’s Up Newp.

SEL, Mentoring, Career Prep: Schools That Deliver What Parents Say They Want

The 74 highlights the innovative work at Blackstone Academy Charter School focused on student relationships and wellness.

At Blackstone Academy, a public charter school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the same students meet daily with the same adult leader for multiple years, providing an opportunity to form deeper relationships than are often possible in conventional schools.

Many other Canopy schools integrate social and emotional learning throughout the academic curriculum. They offer mental health supports, train adults to recognize and respond to students who are impacted by traumatic stress, and pair students with an adult in school for regular individualized mentoring.