NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani picks Kamar Samuels for schools chancellor
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced his choice for schools chancellor Wednesday afternoon.
At a press conference at Central Park's Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Mamdani introduced Kamar Samuels, the current superintendent of Manhattan District 3, as his city schools chancellor.
He also announced the appointments of Julia Kerson as deputy mayor for operations, Louise Yeung as chief climate officer, Ahmed Tigani as commissioner of the Department of Buildings and Emmy Liss as executive director for the Office of Child Care.
Kerson is currently deputy director of operations for infrastructure under Gov. Kathy Hochul, Yeung serves as chief climate officer under Comptroller Brad Lander, Tigani is acting commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Liss was previously COO of the city's Division of Early Childhood Education.
Who is Kamar Samuels?
Samuels was born in Jamaica. He has worked in New York in the public school system for about 20 years, starting as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx.
"A great city is measured by how well it takes care of its children, and a great school system starts with leadership that knows the work from inside out. As a parent of two public school children myself, I believe deeply in what our kids can achieve," Samuels said, "and together we will make sure that every classroom in New York City is a place where learning is happening and is joyful and teachers are supported and students can imagine a future that is as big as this city itself."
During his campaign, the mayor-elect described New York City as the most segregated school system in America. That may be one reason he picked Samuels, who has led school integration plans, in part, by merging schools.
David Adams and the nonprofit The Urban Assembly worked with Samuels on that plan.
"Kamar is a person who understands how to move through different spaces. He understands the importance of engaging with different stakeholders when he's trying to get things done," Adams said. "He's a person who cares about school climate, he's a person who cares about how the school feels, but also a person who believes and dreams big things."
Samuels also helped scale back Gifted and Talented programs in his district amid growing concern about racial disparities. Mamdani said in October he would end New York City's Gifted and Talented program for kindergarten students but keep it for grades 1 through 5.
In a statement, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said, "As a former teacher and life-long educator, Kamar Samuels has the experience and perspective necessary to help our school system thrive. We are looking forward to working together to protect our students and school communities and to build a partnership able to tackle the challenges ahead."
Mamdani's views on mayoral control of NYC schools
Mamdani also addressed his past statements about wanting to eliminate mayoral control of the school system, saying his skepticism came from a frustration with New York City schools and a belief that parents, teachers and students deserve better.
"As with every policy position I take, my focus is on outcomes, so though I have held concerns about mayoral control I also acknowledge that New Yorkers need to know where the buck stops – with me," Mamdani said.
Mamdani said his approach to mayoral control will "ensure that community involvement is not ceremonial or procedural, but tangible and actionable."
He also stated that because enrollment for the Gifted and Talented program for the next academic year is currently open, he and Samuels would not take action to get rid of the program for kindergarteners until the following academic year.
Mamdani said Samuels' appointment would take effect Thursday, and that current Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos has agreed to stay on for an additional month to help with the transition.
"I'm incredibly appreciative of Chancellor Aviles-Ramos's work and the conversations that we had over the course of this interview process, the manner in which she committed herself to it and the candor and the good faith that she engaged with all of it," Mamdani said.
Mamdani's administration
As Mamdani prepares to take over as the city's mayor, he's been naming some key members of the new administration.
He announced three new appointees Tuesday — Elmhurst Hospital CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde as deputy mayor of health and human services, CUNY law professor Ramzi Kassem as his chief counsel, and Steve Banks as his corporation counsel.
Dean Fuleihan and Elle Bisgaard-Church were the first appointments to be announced as Mamdani's first deputy mayor and chief of staff, respectively.
Jessica Tisch will remain in her current role as NYPD commissioner, and Lillian Bonsignore will take over as FDNY commissioner. Current FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker announced his resignation one day after Mamdani won the mayoral election.
Leila Bozorg will be deputy mayor for housing, and Julie Su will be the city's first ever deputy mayor for economic justice.
Mamdani initially announced Catherine Almonte Da Costa would be his director of appointments, but she resigned the next day after controversial social media posts from over 10 years ago resurfaced. Mamdani said he was not aware of the posts prior to hiring her and that his team would be changing their vetting process because of the incident.
Mamdani's inauguration
Mamdani will be officially sworn in as New York City's 111th mayor at a private ceremony just after midnight Thursday. New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath of office.
A public ceremony will take place at City Hall on Thursday afternoon, followed by an inauguration block party near City Hall Park. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller-elect Mark Levine will also be sworn in.
Mamdani will be sworn in by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont at the afternoon ceremony. Other guests and speakers include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, inaugural poet Cornelius Eady, actor Kal Penn, educator and YouTuber Ms. Rachel, playwright Cole Escola and many more.