Listen to “New RI education chief considers state role in local schools” on Spreaker.
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Rhode Island’s new state education commissioner began her first day on the job Monday by touring schools in Providence and Barrington, with an eye toward her mandate to review troubled schools in the state capital.
“From what I’ve seen on paper, it’s been very disappointing, and I think we have to move the needle,” said Angelica Infante-Green, who grew up in New York City and recently left her job as a deputy commissioner in the New York State Department of Education to take the top job in Rhode Island.
“The only way to do that is to partner, in a way that RIDE (the Rhode Island Department of Education) has not done before. I don’t know what we want to call that at this point, other than a partnership. But, we will be on the ground and in the schools.
Last week, Governor Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced the state Department of Education would conduct a 60-day review of Providence schools, at Infante-Green’s suggestion, to look for ways to spark improvements.
“What we’re not going to do is tinker and shuffle the deck chairs,” Raimondo told WPRO’s Gene Valicenti Monday.
“The system is broken. The system is broken and we need some major changes,” Raimondo said.
Infante-Green said she recognizes that people are resistant to change.
“It is a new paradigm, there’s going to be a large shift, and it’s all about quality education, it can only be that,” Infante-Green said.
“I’m sure that there’s different levels of frustration from parents and teachers and everyone involved who want to do the best job possible, so our role is going to be to allow the district to do that,” she said.
