With looming staffing shortages, potential budget reductions, and increasing demands to support student needs, state and district leaders are actively grappling with numerous thorny school staffing issues. In May 2024, Annenberg brought together 90 district leaders, researchers, state-level personnel, and representatives of Rhode Island’s educator preparation programs for our second annual Superintendents Convening, hosted in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association (RISSA).
The convening is one part of the local partnership work, engaging with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Providence Public School District (PPSD), and other districts across the state through RISSA. Staffing schools has been a central focus of Annenberg’s partnership research over the past several years as districts have navigated shifting landscapes before, during, and after the pandemic.