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EDUCATION

Bonus Podcast: Rhode Map Live event on the state of education, from K-12 through college

The panelists included Lisa Odom-Villella, the deputy commissioner of elementary and secondary education, Shannon Gilkey, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera

From left: Moderators Dan McGowan and Steph Machado of Globe Rhode Island discuss the state of education with Rhode Island Deputy Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Lisa Odom-Villella. Mayor Maria Rivera of Central Falls, and Shannon Gilkey, Rhode Island Commissioner of Postsecondary Education at a Globe Rhode Island "Rhode Map Live" event on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Providence.Lylah M Alphonse/Globe Staff

PROVIDENCE — On Wednesday night, Rhode Map Live brought together a panel of local and state officials to talk about the issues facing education and youth from K-12 through college.

You can listen to a lightly edited version of the event in this bonus episode of the Rhode Island Report podcast.

The panelists included Lisa Odom-Villella, the deputy commissioner of elementary and secondary education, Shannon Gilkey, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.

The panelists took questions from moderators Dan McGowan and Steph Machado, as well as audience members, about the teacher workforce shortage, student absenteeism, college readiness, obstacles facing students and more.

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About 100 people attended the event at the Cambridge Innovation Center in downtown Providence. The event was sponsored by the Rhode Island Foundation, Johnson & Wales University, BayCoast Bank and Bayberry Garden.

This was the latest in a series of Rhode Map Live events that have included interviews with former Congressman David Cicilline and a panel about mental health.

To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above.


Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.