Mamdani selects Kamar Samuels, Manhattan superintendent, as the new chancellor for public schools.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is poised to appoint Kamar Samuels, a notable superintendent from uptown Manhattan, as the new chancellor of the New York City public schools. This significant decision is expected to be announced on Wednesday, as confirmed by sources to Media News Source.

Kamar Samuels commenced his professional journey as an elementary school teacher before ascending to the role of middle school principal in the Bronx. His career progressed further when he took the helm of District 13 in Brooklyn, where he garnered recognition for spearheading a district-wide middle school integration initiative. In recent years, he has been serving in District 3, which includes parts of Manhattan.

Currently, as a district leader, Samuels has overseen a controversial plan aimed at restructuring schools in Harlem, a strategy designed to mitigate declining enrollment figures in the area. While this plan has sparked backlash among local community members, it has also received commendations from educational authorities, notably for ensuring equitable access to a broad array of classes and programs. District 3 also encompasses the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights, further complicating the community dynamics.

If confirmed, Samuels will be the third person to assume the chancellor position within a span of two school years. He follows Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who took over the role from David Banks. Banks resigned amid allegations of corruption that have surfaced around City Hall, a situation that has contributed to ongoing instability within the educational leadership.

Political figures have expressed their support for Samuels, with State Senator John Liu lauding his prospective leadership of the nation’s largest public school system, which serves approximately 900,000 students and operates with a budget exceeding billion. Samuels will be stepping into his new role at a time of heightened scrutiny and pressure from various political arenas, including recent federal funding cuts for local magnet programs and an incoming state directive mandating reductions in class sizes, which will require extensive financial investment and staff hiring.

Additionally, Samuels’s future under the incoming mayor could be precarious. Mamdani campaigned on a platform to dissolve the existing system of mayoral control over the public school system, raising questions about the future governance structure and the chancellor’s authority. As the transition team navigates this complex landscape, it remains unclear what Mamdani’s long-term vision for the public school system entails.

Reports suggest that the selection process for the chancellor has been contentious, marked by various factions within Mamdani’s transition team proposing multiple candidates, including Aviles-Ramos, for the position. This internal conflict may have hindered a more streamlined decision-making process, leading to concerns regarding the impact of Samuels’s appointment on team morale.

The official timeline for Samuels’s appointment has not yet been disclosed, but students are set to return from winter break on Monday, marking a pivotal moment for the anticipated leadership change within the New York City educational system.