New Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist talks to Henry Camamcho, 9, about the summer program he will be attending.

The Providence Journal / Kathy Borchers

WOONSOCKET — Deborah A. Gist, Rhode Island’s new commissioner of elementary and secondary education, is so excited about her new job that she began a day early, attending a news conference Tuesday morning to announce the launch of five summer learning programs in urban districts.

“I’m not official yet, but when I heard about this event happening I just couldn’t stay away,” Gist told the audience of children and education officials who had gathered at Riverzedge, an arts center for young people.

Gist, 42, succeeds Peter McWalters, who stepped down Tuesday after serving 17½ years as the state’s schools chief. Gist, who held a similar job in Washington, D.C., began working alongside McWalters on June 8 to ensure a smooth transition. She is the first woman to hold the post.

“Thanks for helping me kick off my first week as commissioner in Rhode Island,” Gist said. “I look forward to many years of working together to improve education in Rhode Island.”

Governor Carcieri, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Providence Supt. Tom Brady were also on hand to celebrate the summer programs that will serve 750 children in grades four to eight in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket.

“Data tells us that summer is such an important time,” Gist said. “Young children who do not participate in high-quality programs like these can lose as much as two months of learning in math and reading. We just can’t let that happen.”

The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Quincy, Mass., donated $60,000 for each of the five programs to offer enrichment activities to low-income students in July and August.

“We want to prevent what is sometimes called ‘summer slide,’ ” said Nicholas C. Donahue, president and CEO of Nellie Mae. “These activities help keep young people on track.” Donahue said that summer enrichment programs are designed to be fun, an approach he’d like to see more schools take to try to reach students.

“It’s funny how close play can look like learning when you do it well,” Donahue said.

The Rhode Island After School Plus Alliance, an advocacy organization that supports after-school and summer programs, will provide training and assistance to the programs, said Sarah Cahill, executive director of the alliance.

At Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls, 150 students will integrate reading, writing, math and science through hands-on learning activities. Students will be asked to keep journals and participate in community service projects.

At the Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School in Woonsocket, about 100 students will spend five weeks exploring art, fitness and the environment while strengthening math and literacy skills. The fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders will participate in activities in city parks, community centers, the banks of the Blackstone River and various art groups and theaters.

The Providence After School Alliance combines learning with recreation programs, emphasizing sciences, math, reading and the arts. About 300 students will be served.

Pawtucket will run two summer programs. Building on a summer 2008 program at three middle schools — Goff, Jenks and Slater — each school will hold a summer program for 50 students each — 150 students total — that focuses on math and literacy, run by the Child Opportunity Zone.

In addition, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will enroll 60 students — 30 each from Nathanael Greene and Flora S. Curtis elementary schools — in two summer camp programs that include field trips and nature excursions. Students will keep journals and create a newsletter about their adventures.

jjordan@projo.com