Providence Public Schools: 3 Senior Appointments. Return to Providence “not any time soon”

Providence Public School District (PPSD) today announced the appointments of Dr. Lisa DiMartino as Chief of Staff, Dr. Dexter Moore, Jr. as Chief Operating Officer, and Gina D’Addario, MMS, as Chief Talent Officer. These leaders join PPSD at a pivotal moment as the district concludes five years of progress under Rhode Island’s Turnaround Action Plan (TAP) — the state-led effort to improve academics, operations, and family engagement across Providence schools.

“Lisa, Dexter, and Gina bring the expertise and vision we need to build on the momentum created through the Providence Turnaround Action Plan,” said Superintendent Javier Montañez. “With their leadership, we are well positioned to continue to strengthen our systems and sustain progress to better serve our students and families.”

Dr. Lisa DiMartino, Chief of Staff – DiMartino joins PPSD from the Rhode Island Foundation, where she led major education initiatives statewide. She will advise the Superintendent, oversee district-wide priorities, and lead the Family and Community Engagement and Communications teams. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Lesley University and an MBA from Providence College.

Dr. Dexter Moore, Jr., Chief Operating Officer – Moore, previously with Oakland Unified School District as Chief of Staff and other senior roles, will oversee district operations including facilities, transportation, safety, technology, and athletics. A graduate of Harvard’s Doctor of Education Leadership program, he has served in senior roles across school systems in Massachusetts, Michigan, and California.

Gina D’Addario, Chief Talent Officer – A PPSD leader since 2021, D’Addario has reshaped Human Resources, launching Rhode Island’s first “Grow Your Own” teacher apprenticeship program and reducing staffing vacancies to the lowest level in years. In her new role, she will lead recruitment, hiring, and retention of a diverse, high-performing workforce. She holds a Master of Management Studies from Yale University, a Master of Education from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College.

The Turnaround Action Plan was launched in 2019, with PPSD focusing on stronger academic systems, restructured operations, and expanded community partnerships.

Recently, RI Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said that Providence is “not ready” to take back the Providence school system, with maybe looking at 2027, depending on both the School Board and the City Council’s actions, as well as the Mayor’s office. She stressed the importance of seeing them “work together”, which they aren’t now – “they have a lot of work to do” – including seeing these 3 units working together. Infante-Green stresses the importance of the state’s Attendance Matters campaign repeatedly in the interview and that scores are on the uptick, though there are challenges to that interpretation.

You can listen to Infante-Green’s commentary during an interview with Gene Valicenti, WPRO: