What is Education Commissioner Infante-Greens future in Rhode Island?
She got to introduce Providence to its new interim superintendent, Dr. Javier Montaez, a homegrown leader who is popular among teachers and respected by administrators. The two toured Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School, where she worked on reading skills with fifth graders and had a third grade boy clearly explain standard algorithm math to a bunch of confused adults. Rhode Island Education Commissioner Anglica Infante-Green has had a rough couple of weeks, but she was in her happy place on Tuesday morning. Then it was back to real life: A teachers union in Providence that finds scandal in everything she does or doesnt do (teacher Twitter took her to task this week for school busses being too hot). A legislature that seems to have little interest in investigating what some have called racist attacks against her. And a governor who wants to truly improve the states largest school district while somehow staying on everyones good side, including hers. The next three months will probably decide the fate of the Providence school takeover, as Governor Dan McKees team tries to reach an agreement on a contract for the union and searches for a permanent superintendent of the district. Right now, shes in a state of limbo. McKee hasnt yet sided with her against the teachers union (and its worth noting he could still blame this dispute on former governor Gina Raimondo). But hes also not yet prepared to send Infante-Green packing, a decision that would be the most significant change made during his administrations first 100 days. But by leaving Infante-Green hanging, McKee is making it nearly impossible for her to do her job. After spending a full school year failing to reach a deal with the union, Infante-Green personally agrees with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza that its time to challenge the teachers union contract in court. But Raimondo, as she was being vetted to join President Joe Bidens administration, publicly put the brakes on that idea. McKee reiterated Tuesday that he opposes a court challenge. Advertisement  McKee pulled Infante-Green out of the contract negotiations last month, questioning the need for the commissioner to be spending hundreds of hours in those discussions. But when philosophy and policy, not money and benefits, are the primary challenges, this isnt a normal contract negotiation. McKees team could strike a deal with the union tomorrow, but Infante-Green and Montaez (or the next superintendent) will need a contract that actually shakes up the system, potentially by extending the school day or the school year, or allowing for more flexibility when it comes to hiring and firing teachers. We know from history that a status quo deal simply preserves the status quo. To be sure, Infante-Green needs to make some changes to her style as well. She came to Rhode Island two years ago as the change agent who said she wouldnt send either of her two children to Providence schools. Parents and community leaders thought her honesty was refreshing, but some of her comments were offensive to teachers who have spent their careers in Providence schools. Its probably too late to repair a relationship with the teachers union, but Infante-Green needs to spend some time truly engaging with the Providence schools community this summer. That will mean some tough conversations about what still needs to happen in the citys schools, but it will also give her a chance to highlight some of the changes that have taken place. Advertisement  McKee may not yet have made up his mind about Infante-Green, but her future may still be in her hands. If she can recapture some of the momentum she had in 2019, the governor will have good reason to offer her new contract next year. But if things stay the same, hell have no good reason to keep her around. Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan.