Rogel and Escobar Elected to Lead Providence School Board

Rogel and Escobar Elected to Lead Providence School Board

The Providence School Board members voted to elect Erlin Rogel as the Board’s new President, and current member Travis Escobar was elected Vice President.

Rogel works for Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, and Escobar is the manager of community relations at Fidelity Investments in Rhode Island.

Much of the school committee's powers were stripped when the state took over the schools in 2020. Providence schools have been deemed as among the worst in the United States.

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“It is a privilege to have been elected President of this dedicated group of public servants,” said newly-elected Board President Erlin Rogel. “I'm humbled by the vote of confidence from my colleagues and look forward to working alongside them, the Providence Public School Department, and the RI Department of Education to create a more equitable and effective Providence Public School District. Our families and students deserve nothing less.”

“I am thrilled and honored to have been elected as the Vice President of the Providence School Board. I am eager to work collaboratively with my colleagues towards a common goal of transitioning our schools back to local control,” said newly-elected Board Vice President Travis Escobar. “Let's harness this excitement and work towards a united Board that is committed to improving education for all of our students."

“I'm honored to continue in the role of Board Secretary, and excited to work with our new Board members and the rest of the leadership team,” said Board Secretary Dr. Mark Santow. “It will take all of us working together - Board members, parents, educators and elected officials - to make sure that RIDE's work in Providence is transparent and effective, and that the transition back to local control leads to improved educational outcomes. I'm ready to dig in!”