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

In a significant move for New York City’s education landscape, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is poised to appoint Kamar Samuels, a prominent local superintendent, as Chancellor of the New York City public schools. This announcement, confirmed by multiple sources, is expected to take place on Wednesday.

Samuels brings extensive educational experience to the position, beginning his career as an elementary school teacher before subsequently serving as a middle school principal in the Bronx. His leadership capabilities were further demonstrated in District 13 in Brooklyn, where he was instrumental in implementing a notable districtwide middle school integration plan. He has been overseeing District 3 in Manhattan for the past few years and is also a parent, which adds a unique perspective to his role in the education system.

As part of his current responsibilities, Samuels managed a contentious initiative aimed at reconfiguring schools in Harlem to combat declining enrollment in the area. While the plan faced community backlash, it received commendations from education authorities for promoting equitable access to diverse academic offerings. District 3, which encompasses parts of the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights, is a critical area of focus given its demographic diversity and educational challenges.

Samuels will become the third individual to hold the chancellor position in just two academic years, following the short tenure of Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who succeeded David Banks. Banks’s departure was marked by his resignation in October 2024 amid ongoing federal investigations into corruption at City Hall.

The new chancellor will oversee a school system with a budget exceeding billion and approximately 900,000 students. Samuels will need to navigate political pressures from federal authorities, who have already withdrawn funding from local magnet programs, alongside a new state mandate mandating reductions in class sizes. This expected shift will entail substantial financial and staffing implications for the city’s schools.

Samuels’ appointment also raises questions regarding the future structure of school governance in New York City. Mamdani, who campaigned on a platform advocating for the end of mayoral control over public schools, has yet to provide a comprehensive vision for the administration’s educational policies. The transition into this role is beset by uncertainty regarding the stability and authority of the chancellor’s position moving forward.

Reports indicate that the selection process for the chancellor was fraught with internal competition, with various factions reportedly backing multiple candidates, including Aviles-Ramos. This resulted in a protracted decision-making period, potentially destabilizing the continuity of leadership within the city’s educational framework.

While it remains unclear when Samuels officially begins his term, it is customary for chancellors to step in at the start of a new mayoral administration, coinciding with students’ return from their winter break. The focus now shifts to how effectively he will implement policies amid ongoing transitions and challenges within New York City’s educational system. The news of his appointment has been first reported by Media News Source, with no immediate comments from the Mamdani transition team available at this time.