22 to Watch in Rhode Island in 2022: Javier Montañez

22 to Watch in Rhode Island in 2022: Javier Montañez

Dr. Javier Montañez was named by Governor Dan McKee in August as Providence schools' Acting Superintendent for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Montañez is an alum of Hope High School who has worked in Providence Public Schools for more than two decades, and was overseeing the district’s expanded summer learning programming and preparations for a return to full in-person learning in the fall of 2021. 

It was not surprising that during the pandemic, statewide, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in October announced the results of the state 2021 RICAS scores for grades 3-8, and across the board, student performance declined from 2019 levels.

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In Providence, the results were beyond dismal — and this is after Johns Hopkins had called Providence school culture “broken” in a scathing report in 2019. 

85.6% of students tested are not meeting expectations in English Language Arts/Literacy; 93.2% of students are not meeting expectations in mathematics. 

Naturally, educators and officials pointed to the disruption of COVID-19, and pointed to decreases in testing scores not just in Rhode Island but across the country. 

But as everyone knows, students and Providence schools need solutions in order to improve performance and outcomes — not rationalizations. 

Under Montañez, the district launched a new website for enhanced student and family interaction; it also announced new teacher recruitment incentives including signing bonuses for classroom educators and pay increases for substitute positions. 

In addition, Providence schools offered specific incentives for hard-to-fill positions and supports for ESL certification. 

“Providence students deserve the best,” said Montañez at the recruitment announcement. “These new initiatives to recruit highly-qualified educators demonstrate our commitment to providing a world-class education for all students.” 

When he was selected as acting superintendent, City Council President John Igliozzi expressed his support for the former educator taking the helm. 

“Dr. Montañez's relationships and depth of understanding of Providence schools -- both as an educator and a former student -- make him uniquely suited to provide a steady and firm foundation, as well as to be an agent of change who can to lead our school district in a positive direction and give our students the excellent education they deserve,” he said. 

Someone needs to turn Providence’s schools around. 2022 will tell if Montañez helps put the beleaguered district on the right path -- and if Providence can, indeed, ever become world-class.