11 to Watch in 2011: Maryellen Butke

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Thursday, December 30, 2010

GoLocalProv News Staff

Maryellen Butke brought a fresh voice and passion to the timeless issue of education reform. Her new grassroots group, the Rhode Island Campaign for Achievement Now, or RI-CAN, promises to shine a new light and sound the alarm over low test scores. Whether Education Commissioner Deborah Gist stays or goes, Butke can be counted on to keep the education reform movement alive and well into 2011.

Her inclusive approach may be disarming, but watch her take no prisoners if she believes that folks are blocking reform for provincial reasons. As she told GoLocalProv about working with unions, “This all-or-nothing debate that happens around school reform isn't productive and is not where we want to be. We can't transform the public education system unless we have everyone - teachers, parents, labor leadership, students and administrators - committed to the work. The blame game simply keeps us stuck and immobilized. It will take every single one of us to transform the system of education in order to ensure that every child in Rhode Island has access to a great public school.”

Butke and RI-CAN will be a force in 2011. As she says, “Shortly after the General Assembly returns for the 2011 session, we will release our legislative agenda for the year. Our goal is to continue the positive momentum around transforming schools and utilize the energy and enthusiasm for education in Rhode Island to build a movement in 2011. We want to put the public back in public education.”

While the headlines have gone to Gist, Walsh and Central Falls – Butke may be the one to watch in 2011.

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11 to Watch in 2011: Maryellen Butke

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