Ed Commissioner Infante-Green Won’t Include Parents in Selection of New Providence Schools Head

Ed Commissioner Infante-Green Won’t Include Parents in Selection of New Providence Schools Head

Angelica Infante-Green who had promised a new policy of transparency in working to fix the Providence Schools will not be including the public in the selection process.

Green, who when up for consideration of Education Commissioner in Massachusetts in 2018 went through a public interview process, will not include parents or any stakeholder groups in the selection process of the person to be hired to oversee the Providence Schools.

Infante-Green was not selected in Massachusetts.

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Parental Involvement in Question

Repeatedly, Infante-Green promised parents who attended the community meetings reviewing the Johns Hopkins report on the failed Providence School system that they would be included in the process moving forward.

The Johns Hopkins report found, that parents were rarely included and often shunned in Providence.

“Respondents agreed that communication at the school and district level was wanting. Parents cited this as a reason for their perceived lack of engagement, feeling that it was difficult to advocate for their students. Many mentioned the absence of parent-teacher conferences at the school level and their difficulties to obtain even an annual meeting with a classroom teacher," found the Johns Hopkins Report.

Parents were quoted as saying:

RIDE needs to go to parents instead of expecting parents to come out to them. – PPSD Parent

Communication is haphazard at all levels in the schools. School to school it is different. It is not happening consistently. - PPSD Parent

It is kind of a part-time job advocating for your kid. – PPSD Parent

Because of language barriers and work schedules, if you are not linked up with outside supports or advocacy groups, there is no one standing up for you. - PPSD Parent

 

Only Hire to Date for Infante-Green is Her Child’s Godparent

The only major hire Infante-Green has made is the hiring of one of her children’s godfather.

As GoLocal first reported in July, Victor Capellan, who was appointed senior advisor to the Commissioner at RIDE, is the godfather to the new commissioner’s son. Infante-Green appointed Capellan.

The Commissioner was appointed to correct the state’s lagging test scores and develop a strategy to correct Providence schools. 

Previously, Capellan was the Superintendent of the Central Falls School system -- the worst performing system in the state according to RICAS test results.

 

Commissioner's Office Defends Process

“Rhode Island requires, for the first time, the creation of a Community Advisory Board to be directly involved in the development of school improvement plans for federally-identified schools. This model has been recognized nationally, and the school improvement plans will help to inform the overall district turnaround plan,” said RIDE spokeswoman Meg Geoghegan.