The incoming chancellor of NYC schools must reject the status quo
Schools Chancellor David Banks’ departure aligns well with Mayor Eric Adams’ plans, as they had discussions about it earlier. Mayor Adams wasted no time in announcing his chosen successor, Melissa Avilés-Ramos, with hopes for her successful tenure in serving the city’s public schoolchildren.
The return of Avilés-Ramos to the Department of Education in July, following a stint in the private sector, indicates that the succession planning has been in the works for some time. It is clear that Banks’ decision to step down is not related to the federal investigations facing the Adams administration.
Avilés-Ramos shows promise in continuing the reforms outlined by Banks at the start of his term, but struggled to implement. She is a DOE veteran who empathizes with the concerns of city parents regarding the public school system, drawing from her personal experience of her mother enrolling her in a Catholic school after the public schools failed her older sisters.
Many city families are opting for alternatives to the DOE system, such as religious or private schools, charter schools, and even homeschooling, due to dissatisfaction with the current system.
While Banks fell short in reforming the DOE bureaucracy, Avilés-Ramos has an opportunity to make a difference. It is essential for her to address the issues of school safety and truancy rates that are on the rise.
The hope is that Avilés-Ramos will bring a fresh perspective and determination to improve the DOE system. With a third of the city’s public schools already excelling, she can focus on implementing successful practices system-wide to rebuild trust and confidence among parents.
Avilés-Ramos has committed to addressing the issues driving families away from DOE schools and has three months to establish a team to deliver on these promises alongside Banks. It is crucial for all New Yorkers to support her in this endeavor.
