Overview
- The mayor said he will ask state lawmakers to continue mayoral control when it comes up for renewal in June and pledged concrete avenues for parent, teacher, and student input.
- In his first letter to staff, Samuels highlighted school integration, culturally responsive curriculum, foundational literacy through NYC Reads, and smaller classes as early priorities.
- Samuels previously led Manhattan’s District 3 and Brooklyn’s District 13, began his career as a Bronx teacher, and pursued integration through school mergers, admissions changes, and International Baccalaureate models.
- He assumes leadership of a system with nearly 900,000 students, roughly 45% of grades 3–8 below proficiency on state tests, high levels of student homelessness, and staffing shortages that complicate class-size mandates.
- Mamdani also appointed Emmy Liss to head the Mayor’s Office of Child Care as the administration moves to expand free child care access.