In a significant shift from his campaign promises, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed Kamar Samuels as the new schools chancellor. During a press conference held shortly before his inauguration, Mamdani announced that instead of abolishing mayoral control, he will advocate for its extension when it comes up for renewal in June.
Mamdani’s New Approach to Mayoral Control
Mamdani acknowledged the challenges faced by the city’s education system, which operates on a $43 billion budget. The system serves nearly 900,000 students and employs approximately 150,000 staff members. Despite improvements in literacy rates, about 45% of students in grades 3-8 still fall below grade level, according to last year’s state assessments.
- Approximately 154,000 students are identified as homeless.
- There is a pressing demand for teachers in special education, bilingual education, math, and science.
Mamdani is committed to creating a governance model that engages parents, teachers, and students in decision-making processes. He remarked that New Yorkers should direct their concerns to him, stating, “I will be asking the legislature for a continuation of mayoral control.”
Transforming School Governance
The current governance structure allows the mayor to appoint the schools chancellor and the majority of the Panel for Educational Policy. This panel is responsible for voting on significant decisions concerning school regulations. Mamdani aims to reshape this model, emphasizing community involvement in a meaningful way.
In response to low voter turnout, often under 2% for parent boards, he plans to restructure parent meetings to be more accessible. Additionally, he intends to enhance the role of parent coordinators, making them more effective in organizing parent engagements rather than merely serving as administrators.
Kamar Samuels: The New Chancellor
Kamar Samuels’ experience as a superintendent has positioned him well for his new role. He previously oversaw controversial school mergers to promote integration and implemented schoolwide enrichment models that moved away from gifted programs. Despite Mamdani’s opposition to gifted programs for younger students, he confirmed no changes would occur in the ongoing application cycle.
Samuels has advocated for an educational vision that is responsive to the needs of families and respects the holistic development of students. His previous success includes increasing test scores through the NYC Reads literacy curriculum and securing over $10 million for integration efforts in districts 3 and 13.
Child Care Initiatives
Mamdani has also announced Emmy Liss as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care, reinforcing his commitment to establishing free child care in the city. Liss brings experience from the de Blasio administration, where she played a key role in expanding prekindergarten programs.
Her vision focuses on the need for city government to collaborate effectively to support families and educators. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a program that meets families’ needs,” Liss emphasized.
This new administration is setting the stage for a transformative approach to New York City’s education and child care systems, prioritizing community engagement and responsive governance.
