Providence, RI Superintendent of Schools Susan Lusi is the kind of education reformer we really need \u2013 one who cares about the well-being of students far more than she does about any test scores.\u00a0 Superintendent Lusi was interviewed by PBS reporter John Merrow in summer, 2013.\u00a0 The conversation was about the Providence schools in general and specifically their unique summer school program.\u00a0 The summer program is based on getting out of the classroom and experiencing the outside world and then integrating the knowledge that comes from it into meaningful work back into the classroom.\u00a0 At one point, Merrow questioned Lusi about test scores:<\/p>\n

John Merrow (PBS):<\/b> This district doesn\u2019t have terrific scores.<\/p>\n

Susan Lusi (Superintendent):<\/b> We have horrible scores.<\/p>\n

Merrow:<\/b> Don\u2019t your kids need remediation, instead of this summer fun?<\/p>\n

Lusi:<\/b> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think the kind of drill and remediation that might lead to a temporary bump in scores is not the kind of education that really any parent wants for his or her child.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Three cheers for Lusi.\u00a0 She, along with others, has designed a summer program that is a far cry from the normal \u201cdrill and kill\u201d approach.\u00a0 She wants summer school to be fun because she knows that will engage the students, expand their interested in learning and ultimately will result in a collateral effect of improving test scores.<\/p>\n