By WPRO News
Governor Gina Raimondo has picked Angélica Infante-Green, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Instructional Support, to succeed Ken Wagner as Rhode Island’s Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner.
“This is an important, exciting moment in Rhode Island education. The foundation is in place, and now we must have the courage and collective will to act boldly on behalf of all students,” said Infante-Green in a statement. “Rhode Islanders are demanding better for their kids and their futures, and that’s what all of us want. I became a teacher because I saw firsthand the transformative power of education. Every child deserves the opportunity for a good education, and it is on us to ensure that all students are positioned for success.”
“Rhode Island has an urgent need to improve schools and close achievement gaps for our students, and I believe that Angélica can help push our state forward,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Her passion for education and her commitment to equity as an educator, leader, Latina, and mother are unmatched, and I look forward to working with her to stay the course on a long-term, comprehensive education strategy that is focused on the needs of every student in Rhode Island.”
According to Raimondo’s office, New York’s graduation rate increased, students made gains on both math and English assessments, and achievement gaps for black and Latino students narrowed during Infante-Green’s tenure. New York also saw advancements in English and proficiency for black and Latino students in grades 3-8 increased between 2015 and 2018. Math proficiency also increased for black and Latino students during those years.
Prior to her role as a Deputy Commissioner, Infante-Green began her career as a Dual Language Program teacher in the South Bronx. She later became a Dual Language Program project director, and established a number of measures, some nationally recognized, for English learners.
If she is approved by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Education next week, Infante-Green could start working in Rhode Island on April 29.
