Ms Debbie has used the students of RI as the basis for HER PhD…A “workshop” to benefit HER agenda! And a gullible public followed her willingly over the cliff…

One wonders why the Media has never reported that her PhD efforts are financed by the taxpayers! Have they ever “caught” her heading out on a Friday morning as part of her PhD. Gee, one wonders if the taxpayers funded the flights too?

Jennifer Jordan of the Projo acts like she is part of Gist’s staff at RIDE. Can’t ask any questions that might “embarrass” the Commissioner, can we?

She has turned the state upside down in her efforts to “reform” education in RI yet NEVER take responsibility for the “results” of her dictates!

Accountability? Ever notice she ALWAYS has an excuse! It is ALWAYS someone else’s fault!!

The Race to the Top Funds? Used to create volumes of “recommendations” that can be found in any FIRST year Education text. How much has been spent on “Consultants” to support her efforts?

Her “Evaluation system” is a bureaucratic nightmare more akin to the “Central Planning” of the Soviet Union than the United States.

Needless paperwork drills that are nothing more than an effort to gather data points to support HER PhD Thesis.

Very similar to the SALT Surveys still conducted in RI that formed the basis for an earlier PhD effort by a RI “Educator”. What does the state actually do with these meaningless surveys? Great statistics but do they actually DO anything with the information.

Gist is a fraud and a charlatan who has NEVER taught in the Secondary environment she is trying to “reform”!!!

“Teacher of the Year”! Not at the State level, Not even at a District level! She was a “Teacher of the Year”! At a small ELEMENTARY school!! Talk about “grade inflation”, how about pure BS!

As Commissioner of Education, she is DIRECTLY responsible for the Central Falls School District. Great results, wouldn’t you agree?

In my opinion, Ms Gist is just another product of the Broad Foundation’s “School of Educational Reform”, i.e. privatize education and provide a captive market for the computer industry. Their motto is “Entrepreneurship for the Public Good in Education, Science and the Arts.” Take ONE guess what they REALLY want to do.

The Public Charter Schools that she is fostering DO NOT have to comply with Federal Mandates regarding Special Education! They are “selective” in who they choose to admit. And yet they still do not produce at the levels they say they do. Let them operate with the same restrictions / mandates that Public Schools are forced to deal with and, then compare the results.

You people just don’t get it!

She is a terrific politician and has told you EXACTLY what you wanted to hear.

Too bad that she is creating chaos for our students and destroying teacher morale in her attempt to “quantify” HER PhD thesis.

One wonders if she will also institute an Evaluation System for PARENTS?

They are the ones who have an enormous impact on the education of the children in our state. I find it absolutely amazing that Ms Gist, contrary to all reason and common sense, has stated that the home environment and socio-economic background have no impact on educational achievement.

Ever wonder why RI Taxpayers spend so much on education yet have students that cannot pass a standardized test? Ask Ms Gist that question? She’ll probably tell you that teachers are failing their students and ALL Students can go to college! Yea, right! It might be a dream but it is NOT borne out by reality.

Ask her how many students in URI’s “Talent Development Program”, funded by the taxpayers; REQUIRE remedial programs to function at the University level. Better yet, ask her the “success rate” of these students.

I for one, am tired of the Political Correctness that fosters this charade!

I’ve met her three times and each time wasn’t impressed. If she was questioned and she didn’t have a stock answer for it from her talking points, she was unprepared to think out an answer. She wasn’t even bright enough to tell the questioner that she didn’t know the answer but would get back to them.

If the defense of her thesis is comprised of difficult questioning, I can’t see her standing up well under pressure.

Along with Gina Raimondo, Gist brings fresh leadership to our historically backwater state. We should all help her achieve her and our goals – for a better educated K-12 population, who can restore RI’s former greatness, becoming a real peer state to CT and MA