Statement from the Central Falls Board of Trustees on the Retirement of Superintendent Dr. Frances Gallo

CENTRAL FALLS, RI – Tonight at the regularly scheduled Central Falls School Board of Trustees meeting, the Board officially accepted a letter of resignation from Superintendent Dr. Frances Gallo. After a long and admired career in education, Dr. Gallo will be retiring from traditional public education on June 30, 2015.

The Board accepted Dr. Gallo’s decision with deep regret and equally deep appreciation for her eight years of service to the children and families of Central Falls.

“For the past eight years, I have marveled at the leadership and care with which Dr. Gallo approached her work in our Central Falls district,” said Anna Cano-Morales, Chair, Central Falls Board of Trustees. “She will definitely be leaving this district in a much better place than when she found it. There are no words to truly express how grateful we are for her unwavering commitment to put children, their community, and progress in education front and center of her work.”

Under the leadership of Dr. Gallo, the Central Falls School District has grown into one that is recognized and admired by leaders and communities throughout Rhode Island and beyond, and has proven to be a catalyst for sustainable and replicable reform. With an outstanding list of district successes over the past eight years, several recent highlights under Dr. Gallo’s leadership include:

• The launch of the “Innovation Lab,” a transformative partnership with Rhode Island College designed to provide mutually beneficial educational, cultural and social service programs to members of both the Central Falls and RIC communities.

• Significant progress has been made to transform 115 Illinois Avenue into a Teaching, Learning, and Research Center – a mecca for education research that will serve as an inspiring model for other urban districts.

• Mass Insight Education’s College Success Program is operational and growing in Central Fall’s secondary schools, promising to open new and brilliant horizons for graduates as cohorts of teachers embrace new, more challenging instructional strategies with higher expectations for students.

• The renewed Central Falls District/Charter Compact is fostering high expectations across the traditional/charter public school boundaries through the establishment of intimate professional learning communities and shared best practices.

While these are just a few of the recent successes under her leadership as superintendent, the Central Falls Board of Trustees commends Dr. Gallo for the tremendous progress the school district has made over her tenure.

“As a former student turned Trustee, I have never witnessed such an incredible champion for Central Falls schools as Dr. Gallo. Through her leadership, we’ve been able to transform culture in our schools, increase graduation rates, and build a parental engagement movement,” said Stephanie Gonzalez, board member, Central Falls Board of Trustees. “It is difficult to see her go, but I look forward to continue supporting the vision she leaves behind. I could not be more grateful for the way she loved and respected my community as if it were her own – in fact, it is.”

“Dr. Gallo’s love for and belief in the children of Central Falls – our children – drove every action she took as superintendent,” said Sonia Rodrigues Grace, Vice Chair, Central Falls Board of Trustees. “Her grace and unflinching commitment to world-class public education inspired me and, I’m sure, many others in our city and beyond. We will miss her deeply.”

The Central Falls Board of Trustees will be working collaboratively and planning with the Rhode Island Department of Education in the coming months, and will engage the Central Falls community to ensure continued progress and transformation in Central Falls schools.

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