Raimondo picks N.Y. educator to lead R.I. Dept. of Education

KEN WAGNER, deputy education commissioner in New York state, answers questions with Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, right, on Wednesday at the Statehouse.  Wagner is Raimondo's choice for commissioner of elementary and secondary education. / PBN PHOTO/PATRICIA DADDONA
KEN WAGNER, deputy education commissioner in New York state, answers questions with Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, right, on Wednesday at the Statehouse. Wagner is Raimondo's choice for commissioner of elementary and secondary education. / PBN PHOTO/PATRICIA DADDONA

PROVIDENCE – Ken Wagner, a deputy commissioner of education in New York state, has been named Rhode Island’s new commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
His appointment by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo follows a nationwide search and “listening tour” where members of the education community and the public urged the hiring of a commissioner who is thoughtful, collaborative and student-centered.
“He’s a work horse, not a show horse,” said Raimondo when introducing him to a roomful of about 100 educators, church leaders and business people at the Statehouse Wednesday.
“He’s here to work move this education system forward and put kids first,” the governor said, adding, “Most importantly, Ken and I share a philosophy that everyone needs to be involved in providing solutions: educators, students, church leaders. Everyone has a place at the table.”
Wagner’s nomination is expected to be considered by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Education next week.
Wagner kept his remarks short, but answered questions from the press afterward.
“My standard for success is very simple,” he said. “If it’s something that helps teachers and students learn, then that’s what we should be doing.”
Wagner praised the governor for incorporating educational values into her budget.
“I’m privileged to enter an environment where we have put dollars to match values,” he said.
Wagner, also a former middle school principal, succeeds Deborah A. Gist, a controversial commissioner since 2009, who is now superintendent of the Tulsa, Okla., school district. He sidestepped reporters’ questions about Gist’s tenure, but one educational supporter didn’t.
Larry Purtill, president of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Education Association, which represents 6,000 teachers, said he supports and welcomes Wagner.
“The new commissioner has a reputation for listening, wanting to work with teachers,” Purtill said, “and I think that’s the first thing you’ve got to do is reach teachers and all educators, and re-establish the Department of Education’s credibility, because most teachers have very little confidence in the department, based on the last five years.”
During her tenure, Gist improved education preparation programs, expanded access to and enhanced the quality of early education programming and led 21st century technology and innovation in the classroom.
But in 2013, when Gist’s contract was about to be renewed, teacher unions opposed it, saying Gist disregards their input on education issues, bases teacher evaluations on student academic performance that often is beyond teachers’ control, and has a disrespectful, even bullying, attitude toward educators.
More recently, Purtill cited differences over evaluations, funding for charter schools and standardized testing.
Barbara S. Cottam, chairwoman of the R.I. Board of Education, and Daniel McConaghy, chairman of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, both said Wagner’s track record as a psychologist, principal and administrator would be invaluable here in Rhode Island.
“Partner. Listener. Knowledgeable. Leader,” said Cottam. “These are the characteristics Ken has. … And he has the track record to back it up.”

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