World Class Talent

  • Fogarty Elementary School staff clap for students on the last day

     

    World Class Talent: Supporting Our Educators and Leaders

     

    Outstanding New PrinicpalWhat is the World Class Talent pillar?

    All Providence students will attend a school staffed by highly effective teachers and leaders who reflect the community’s diversity, and are singularly focused on student growth and achievement. 

     

    Where We Started

    Before the Turnaround Action Plan (TAP) was implemented, PPSD faced several challenges in building a strong, diverse workforce. Educator evaluations were inconsistent, with no system in place to capture both strengths and areas for improvement. The evaluation process for building leaders did not prioritize skills needed to lead turnaround schools, and student outcomes were only a small part of the final effectiveness rating. As a result, educators had little support to target their individual areas for growth. Furthermore, professional development opportunities were scarce, leaving educators without the tools and resources they needed to succeed.

     

    The district also lacked a “Grow Your Own” program to develop local talent, and recruitment and retention practices were not sufficient to meet the demand for educators. Our educator workforce did not reflect the diversity of Providence, and there were no dedicated teams to focus on pipeline development or staffing resources. The Human Resources (HR) department faced its own set of challenges, including inefficiencies in staffing processes and a lack of data-driven decision-making. These challenges hindered the district’s ability to build and maintain a high-performing workforce.

     

    Where We Are Now

    With the implementation of TAP, there have been significant strides toward addressing these issues. For the 2024-2025 school year, performance review processes have been expanded to include all employees across the district. These reviews are designed to provide meaningful feedback and help identify areas for growth. A new Building Leader evaluation model was rolled out in the 2023-2024 school year, focusing on leadership skills critical for school turnaround success.

     

    The district has also developed professional development modules tailored to the unique needs of educators, helping them grow in areas like classroom management and instructional strategies. Since the start of the intervention, PPSD has consistently offered additional professional development days to support educators, including a 90-minute PD session every three weeks during the 2023-2024 school year to address learning recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    In 2024, the Grow Your Own program was launched, enrolling 9 Teacher Assistants (TAs) and 3 teachers in teacher preparation programs. By 2026, these individuals will be eligible for certification and ready to join the district’s teaching staff. This initiative is helping to build a pipeline of locally trained educators who are familiar with the needs of our students.

     

    The district has also expanded its recruitment efforts, creating a comprehensive calendar of career fairs and recruitment events. The TeachPVD website has become a central hub for recruitment, with efforts focused on attracting diverse candidates and filling high-need areas. Alongside these efforts, the district has introduced strategic initiatives to improve retention, including early contract hiring and incentives for teachers and staff.

     

    To streamline support for schools, Human Resources has been reorganized into three networks—Elementary, Middle, and High—each with dedicated teams that make staffing more efficient. Data-driven practices are now central to HR decision-making, and new digital tools have been introduced to improve efficiency and record-keeping.

     

    What’s Next

    Looking ahead, PPSD is committed to continuing to refine and expand its talent initiatives. The district plans to engage in a reflection and data-collection process for its new performance review processes, using feedback from employees to fine-tune evaluations and provide additional support where needed.

    PPSD is also applying to become a registered teacher apprenticeship program to secure federal funding and sustain the Grow Your Own initiative. Virtual and external hiring fairs will continue, with a focus on filling our hardest-to-staff positions.

     

    In partnership with local colleges and universities, PPSD will host an Education Certification Pathways Fair to provide opportunities for community members to explore certification programs. Further support for new educator retention will come through enhanced mentorship, professional development, and long-term support initiatives.

     

    Finally, the district is expanding its Human Resources team, ensuring that staff has the resources and support needed to succeed. A new Executive Director of Labor Relations and Employee Services will be joining PPSD in March 2025 to further strengthen HR’s capacity to support district goals.

     

    By focusing on developing and retaining high-quality educators, PPSD is committed to building a world-class workforce that will provide the best possible education for every student.