Former Providence superintendent reflects on tenure

Last week, the former superintendent of Providence Schools Susan Lusi, who resigned unexpectedly from her post at the end of the past school year after a four-year tenure, spoke publicly about her experiences. The talk was hosted by the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown...

Last week, the former superintendent of Providence Schools Susan Lusi, who resigned unexpectedly from her post at the end of the past school year after a four-year tenure, spoke publicly about her experiences. The talk was hosted by the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University. Luci’s talk centered on the accomplishments she made during her tenure, and on the many challenges facing Providence Public Schools, a high-poverty district with a history of mismanagement and conflict between teachers, administrators, and government officials

“Once you’re part of the system, in my case the superintendent, it’s hard to change some of the political and other contextual factors from within because you risk biting the hand that feeds you.”

In the months since her resignation, many commentators have criticized the close involvement of municipal government in making decisions about the city’s schools, a factor that she cited directly as a reason for her departure in an interview with the Providence Journal in JuneThe search for a new superintendent is still in progress.