New York City's schools chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, is seeking to retain her position as the head of the city's sprawling school system, citing her track record of implementing reforms and expanding parental and educator involvement. In a bid to appeal to outgoing Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has vowed to dismantle mayoral control over schools, Aviles-Ramos proposed strengthening existing structures such as the Panel for Educational Policy.
The chancellor acknowledged that some parents and educators have expressed frustration with the lack of community engagement in decision-making processes, but she argued that the issue lies not with the system itself, but with how it is managed. "We've started some amazing work," Aviles-Ramos said, referring to her accomplishments overseeing the school system.
Aviles-Ramos suggested implementing reforms through existing channels, such as strengthening the Panel for Educational Policy and parent advisory councils. She also cited instances of successful community-led initiatives, including a literacy instruction overhaul that has lifted test scores. "My point is that it's not just us designing these initiatives and then going to all the parent leaders and saying, 'Hey, sign off on this. We need your signature,'" she said.
Despite facing criticism from Mamdani during his campaign, Aviles-Ramos remains confident in her ability to implement change. Her tenure was marked by controversy, including corruption scandals and federal investigations that led to the departure of her predecessor, David Banks. However, her record on issues such as supporting undocumented students and trans kids in school sports has been widely praised.
Mamdani's education platform calls for an end to mayoral control over schools, but he has not specified how to achieve this goal. His proposed reforms would expand community involvement in decision-making processes, rather than abolishing the existing system entirely. "Anybody who's in a commissioner-level or a chancellor-level position has a difficult job trying to advocate for themselves to stay," said Ester Fuchs, a professor of public affairs and political science at Columbia University.
Fuchs believes that Aviles-Ramos is well-positioned to remain in her role, given her track record of keeping the school system together during times of turmoil. "She came in at the tail end of [Mayor Eric Adams'] administration, and in fact, is one of those people who's been keeping things together," Fuchs said.
The future of New York City's schools chancellor remains uncertain, with Aviles-Ramos seeking to retain her position against a backdrop of uncertainty and change.
The chancellor acknowledged that some parents and educators have expressed frustration with the lack of community engagement in decision-making processes, but she argued that the issue lies not with the system itself, but with how it is managed. "We've started some amazing work," Aviles-Ramos said, referring to her accomplishments overseeing the school system.
Aviles-Ramos suggested implementing reforms through existing channels, such as strengthening the Panel for Educational Policy and parent advisory councils. She also cited instances of successful community-led initiatives, including a literacy instruction overhaul that has lifted test scores. "My point is that it's not just us designing these initiatives and then going to all the parent leaders and saying, 'Hey, sign off on this. We need your signature,'" she said.
Despite facing criticism from Mamdani during his campaign, Aviles-Ramos remains confident in her ability to implement change. Her tenure was marked by controversy, including corruption scandals and federal investigations that led to the departure of her predecessor, David Banks. However, her record on issues such as supporting undocumented students and trans kids in school sports has been widely praised.
Mamdani's education platform calls for an end to mayoral control over schools, but he has not specified how to achieve this goal. His proposed reforms would expand community involvement in decision-making processes, rather than abolishing the existing system entirely. "Anybody who's in a commissioner-level or a chancellor-level position has a difficult job trying to advocate for themselves to stay," said Ester Fuchs, a professor of public affairs and political science at Columbia University.
Fuchs believes that Aviles-Ramos is well-positioned to remain in her role, given her track record of keeping the school system together during times of turmoil. "She came in at the tail end of [Mayor Eric Adams'] administration, and in fact, is one of those people who's been keeping things together," Fuchs said.
The future of New York City's schools chancellor remains uncertain, with Aviles-Ramos seeking to retain her position against a backdrop of uncertainty and change.
about the panel for educational policy & stuff... ppl r saying shes not implementing reforms bc of how its managed, but like what if we actually listened to parents & educators 2 start w/ existing channels?? 
her literacy instro program lifted test scores lol! n btw i dont think mamdani's got a clear plan 4 ending mayoral control... its all abt keeping it together, not making it worse 
. She's got some solid points about how community engagement can be a thing, but also acknowledging that there might be better ways to do things 
. I mean, her record on supporting marginalized groups has been fire 
, and that's something we should all be celebrating. The real question is, will the new mayor-elect let Aviles-Ramos keep doing what she's doing? 
It'd be a shame if they had to start from scratch 
I'm low-key rooting for Aviles-Ramos to stay on as the head of NYC schools 
She's been through some crazy stuff, but she's made some solid moves to get kids more involved in decision-making 
Like, that literacy instruction overhaul was a game-changer for test scores! 
I mean, I'm all for community involvement, but we can't just throw the baby out with the bathwater 
Aviles-Ramos has a solid track record of supporting marginalized groups, too 
So, fingers crossed she sticks around and helps shape the future of NYC schools 
. I mean, Aviles-Ramos has had some drama in the past, like those corruption scandals and federal investigations... not exactly the kind of thing you want to see in a school chancellor 
. And now she's trying to convince everyone that strengthening existing structures is the answer? It sounds like just more of the same old system to me 
- she's been through so much already 
! But honestly, I think her track record speaks for itself 
. She's got some amazing initiatives under her belt 
, like that literacy overhaul that lifted test scores 
! And let's be real, she's been a total rockstar when it comes to supporting students and their families 
. Mamdani might want to change things up, but I think Aviles-Ramos has the chops to keep on keeping on 
. and imo, that's a super valuable lesson in leadership - sometimes you can't just rip everything up and start over, but instead need to adapt and evolve what you already have. it's not always easy, but it's often the most effective way to drive real change