Raimondo Introduces Recommendation For Education Commissioner

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Gina Raimondo has announced her pick for the state's next commissioner of education. Angélica Infante-Green was introduced to the public at a press conference at the state house Tuesday morning.

"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," Gov. Raimondo said. "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."

I’m proud to introduce Angélica Infante-Green and her family. There’s no question that Angélica will be a fierce advocate for all Rhode Island students. pic.twitter.com/IZAR7I0VXt
— Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/GovRaimond... 19, 2019

Infante-Green currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Education Department's Office of Instructional Support P-12. Throughout her career, she has worked as a teacher and advocate for improving education, especially for English learners and students with disabilities.

"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," Infante-Green said. "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."

After serving as a dual-language program teacher and, later, director in the South Bronx, Infante-Green became the CEO of the Office of English Learners for the New York City Department of Education. As a first-generation American and English-learner herself, as well as the parent of a special-needs child, making sure opportunities are available to all students is an important focus of her career. This led her to develop a first-in-the-nation bilingual program for special education students, as well as several other programs to increase English-Language Arts proficiency in minority students, help reduce chronic absences and increase community and parent engagement.

"I've known Angélica Infante-Green for years as a strong, smart, effective leader who is relentlessly focused on equity," said current Commissioner Ken Wagner. "I am thrilled for this historic opportunity to have our first statewide education leader of color coming into the role and moving opportunities forward in Rhode Island and beyond."

If confirmed, Infante-Green will be Rhode Island's first Latina Commissioner of Education, as well as the first person of color to fill the role. The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Education are scheduled to vote on her nomination on March 26, with her first day tentatively set for April 29.

“Language matters.
I will never use the term disabled; our kids are Differently Abled.
I will never use the term English language learner;
our kids are all Multilingual learners.
I hope we will all be bilingual someday!”
—@AInfanteGreen #MultilingualRI pic.twitter.com/GI3voos8k0

— Erin L Papa, PhD (@erinpapari) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/erinpapari... 19, 2019