Video: Education Commissioner Deborah Gist's Visit To Barnes Elementary School

In the accompanying video, Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist tours the third-grade classroom of Debra Sgambato at in Johnston on Feb. 14.

Gist sits with Mitchell Parrillo, 9, as he works through an exercise, then listens as Lexi Ross reads an essay about her friend, Estabe-Ana Souliza, as part of a lesson on conducting interviews. Students had six stations to visit that tested their language and math skills.

Finally, Gist describes the innovative elements of Ms. Sgambato's classroom and how those elements fit in with state efforts to enhance education.

Later in the day, Gist was scheduled to meet with teachers and host a community forum at Ferri Middle School at 5:30 p.m.