New York City Schools Chancellor

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Head of the New York City Department of Education

Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education
Logo of the NYC Department of Education
Incumbent Melissa Aviles-Ramos since October 16, 2024
New York City Department of Education
Member of	New York City Panel for Educational Policy
Reports to	The Mayor of New York City
Seat	New York City
Appointer	Mayor of New York City
Term length	Four years renewable at mayor's pleasure
Constituting instrument	New York City Charter
Inaugural holder	William H. Maxwell
Deputy	1 Chief operating officer/chief of staff 1 senior deputy chancellor 5 deputy chancellors
Website	Chancellor Webpage

The New York City Schools Chancellor (formally the "Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education") is the head of the New York City Department of Education. The Chancellor is appointed by the Mayor, and serves at the Mayor's pleasure. The Chancellor is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the department as well as responsible of all New York City Public Schools. The Chancellor is also a member of the New York City Panel for Educational Policy (formerly the New York City Board of Education). The current Chancellor is Melissa Aviles-Ramos.

History of position

Under NYC Board of Education

While searching for a permanent Superintendent of Schools in 1970 for Nathan Brown, the Board of Education named Irving Anker to serve as Acting Superintendent until the position was filled. The Board had approached, and been turned down by, such notables as Ralph Bunche, Ramsey Clark, Arthur J. Goldberg and Sargent Shriver, before choosing Harvey B. Scribner, who had been Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education and superintendent of the Teaneck Public Schools, where he oversaw the implementation of a voluntary school integration program.

Citing what he called a "confidence gap" with the Board of Education, Scribner announced in December 1972 that he would leave his post as Chancellor when his three-year contract ended on June 30, 1973. Before going on a terminal vacation starting on April 1, 1973, Chancellor Scribner named Anker, then Deputy Chancellor, to serve as Acting Chancellor. Anker was then named permanent Chancellor in June 1973.

After taking office in January 1978 as Mayor of New York, Ed Koch forced out Anker as Chancellor in favor of Frank Macchiarola, a key Koch advisor who had been a vice president of the CUNY Graduate Center and deputy director of the New York State Emergency Financial Control Board for New York City; Anker would serve until his contract ended on June 30, 1978.

Anthony J. Alvarado was named as Chancellor in April 1983, the city's first Hispanic Chancellor. Alvarado resigned as School Chancellor in May 1984 in the wake of professional misconduct charges, including allegations that he had borrowed $80,000 from employees in coercive fashion. Nathan Quinones was selected as Chancellor, having served in the position on an interim basis after Alvarado placed himself on leave two months earlier.

Quinones was pressured to resign in 1987, in the face of criticism for his management of the district and its finances, with mayoral candidate Carol Bellamy saying that he "consistently failed to provide the leadership or sound management we need".

Harold O. Levy was the last Chancellor to be selected directly by the Board of Education, serving during the final years of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the early part of the Bloomberg administration.

Under mayoral control

Joel Klein was named as Chancellor in July 2002 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the first to be named in the reorganized system in which the Mayor of New York was given direct control of the Board of Education.

In November 2010, Cathie Black was named as the first female chancellor by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Because of her lack of educational experience and administrative licensing, Black required a waiver from the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, who at that time was David M. Steiner, in order to take office. The waiver was issued, and Black took office on January 3, 2011.

List of New York City Schools chancellors

Individuals who have led the New York City school system include:

Melissa Aviles-Ramos 2024-present
David C. Banks 2022–2024
Meisha Ross Porter 2021
Richard Carranza 2018–2021
Carmen Fariña 2014–2018
Dennis Walcott 2011–2013
Cathie Black 2011
Joel Klein 2002–2010
Harold O. Levy 2000–2002
Dr. Rudy Crew 1995–1999
Ramon C. Cortines 1993–1995
Dr. Harvey Garner (interim) July – August 1993
Dr. Joseph A. Fernandez 1990–1993
Bernard Mecklowitz (interim) June – December 1989
Dr. Richard Green 1988–1989
Dr. Charles I. Schonhaut (acting) 1988
Nathan Quinones 1984–1987
Anthony J. Alvarado 1983–1984
Richard F. Halverson (acting) 1983
Frank Macchiarola 1978–1983
Harvey B. Scribner 1970–1973
Irving Anker 1970, 1973–1978
Nathan Brown 1969–1970
Calvin E. Gross 1963–1965
Bernard E. Donovan 1962–1963, 1965–1969
John J. Theobald 1958–1962
William Jansen 1947–1958
John E. Wade 1942–1947
Harold G. Campbell 1934–1942
William J. O’Shea 1924–1934
William L. Ettinger 1918–1924
William H. Maxwell 1898–1918

References

Buder, Leonard (19 June 1970). "School Board Weighs 6 for Chancellor". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
Buder, Leonard (22 December 1972). "SCRIBNER TO QUIT; SAYS THAT BOARD DOESN'T WANT HIM; He Sees a 'Confidence Gap' in Failure to Renew His School Contract Fast DECISION IS A SURPRISE Monserrat Says Education Panel Planned to Act Next Month on Chancellor Scribner Resigns, Blaming City Board". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
Buder, Leonard. "Scribner Names Aide As Interim Chancellor; 1969 Law Cited Board Gets Memorandum", The New York Times, March 16, 1973. Accessed July 28, 2010.
Buder, Leonard (15 June 1973). "Anker, as Expected, Is Named City School Chancellor". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
Chambers, Marcia (18 April 1978). "Macchiarola, Koch Choice, Named Chancellor by Board of Education; City U. Official Elected After Heated Voting On Five Finalists Experience in Education Mayor Praises Selection Macchiarola, Koch's Choice, Is Named Chancellor by Board of Education Macchiarola Conciliatory Board Undecided at Outset". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
Chambers, Marcia (29 April 1983). "MAN IN THE NEWS; AN INNOVATIVE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR: ANTHONY JOHN ALVARADO". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
"Alvarado resigns N.Y. school post". The Day (New London). Associated Press. 12 May 1984. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
Martin, Douglas (27 July 2010). "Nathan Quinones Dies at 79; Led New York City Schools". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
"Chancellor Joel I. Klein". New York City Department of Education. 6 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
"Hearst Official to Replace Klein at Helm of N.Y. Schools". The New York Times. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
"Black's future is in these hands". Times Union. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
"Unknown". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
"The Board of Education to the Department of Education Tour: A Self-Paced Module". p. 104. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
Lewis, Neil (5 June 1989). "Short-Term Chancellor, Long-Term Goals". The New York Times.

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