The New York City Schools Chancellor (formally "Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education") is the head of the New York City Department of Education. The Chancellor is appointed by the

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

, and serves at the Mayor's pleasure. The Chancellor is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the department as well as responsible of all New York City Public Schools. The Chancellor is also a member of the New York City Panel for Educational Policy (formerly the New York City Board of Education). The current Chancellor is David C. Banks.

History of position

Under NYC Board of Education

While searching for a permanent Superintendent of Schools in 1970 for Nathan Brown, the Board of Education named

Irving Anker Irving Anker (October 27, 1911 – June 12, 2000) was an American educator and administrator who served from 1973 to 1978 as New York City Schools Chancellor, overseeing the largest school district in the United States at a time when control of ...

to serve as Acting Superintendent until the position was filled. The Board had approached, and been turned down by, such notables as

Ralph Bunche Ralph Johnson Bunche (; August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist, diplomat, and leading actor in the mid-20th-century decolonization process and US civil rights movement, who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize ...

, Ramsey Clark,

Arthur J. Goldberg Arthur Joseph Goldberg (August 8, 1908January 19, 1990) was an American statesman and jurist who served as the 9th U.S. Secretary of Labor, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the 6th United States Ambassador to ...

and Sargent Shriver, before choosing Harvey B. Scribner, who had been Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education and superintendent of the Teaneck Public Schools, where he oversaw the implementation of a voluntary school integration program. Citing what he called a "confidence gap" with the Board of Education, Scribner announced in December 1972 that he would leave his post as Chancellor when his three-year contract ended on June 30, 1973. Before going on a terminal vacation starting on April 1, 1973, Chancellor Scribner named Anker, then Deputy Chancellor, to serve as Acting Chancellor. Anker was then named permanent Chancellor in June 1973. After taking office in January 1978 as Mayor of New York, Ed Koch forced out Anker as Chancellor in favor of

Frank Macchiarola Frank J. Macchiarola (April 7, 1941 – December 18, 2012), was an American academic. His interests and expertise spanned the legal, academic, executive management and public service areas. From 2008 until his death, Macchiarola was the Chan ...

, a key Koch advisor who had been a vice president of the CUNY Graduate Center and deputy director of the New York State Emergency Financial Control Board for New York City; Anker would serve until his contract ended on June 30, 1978. Alvarado was named as Chancellor in April 1983, the city's first Hispanic Chancellor. Alvarado resigned as School Chancellor in May 1984 in the wake of professional misconduct charges, including allegations that he had borrowed $80,000 from employees in coercive fashion. Nathan Quinones was selected as Chancellor, having served in the position on an interim basis after Alvarado placed himself on leave two months earlier. Quinones was pressured to resign in 1987, in the face of criticism for his management of the district and its finances, with mayoral candidate Carol Bellamy saying that he "consistently failed to provide the leadership or sound management we need".

Harold O. Levy Harold Oscar Levy (December 14, 1952 – November 27, 2018) was an American lawyer and philanthropist who last served as the executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Having previously held leadership roles as a corporate attorney, ...

was the last Chancellor to be selected directly by the Board of Education, serving during the final years of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the early part of the Bloomberg administration.

Under mayoral control

Joel Klein was named as Chancellor in July 2002 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the first to be named in the reorganized system in which the Mayor of New York was given direct control of the Board of Education. In November 2010, Cathie Black was named as the first female chancellor by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Because of her lack of educational experience and administrative licensing, Black required a waiver from the

Commissioner of Education of the State of New York The Commissioner of Education of the State of New York is the head of the State Education Department, chosen by the Board of Regents. The Commissioner also serves as the President of the University of the State of New York The University of the ...

, who at that time was David M. Steiner, in order to take office. The waiver was issued, and Black took office on January 3, 2011.

List of New York City Schools chancellors

Individuals who have led the New York City school system include: * David C. Banks 2022–present * Meisha Ross Porter 2021 * Richard Carranza 2018–2021 *

Carmen Fariña Carmen Fariña (née Guillén; born April 5, 1943) is a former New York City Schools Chancellor and head of the New York City Department of Education. Announced by Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio on December 30, 2013, she was the first New York Cit ...

2014–2018 * Dennis Walcott 2011–2013 * Cathie Black 2011 * Joel Klein 2002–2010 *

2000–2002 * Dr. Rudy Crew 1995–1999 * Ramon C. Cortines 1993–1995 * Dr. Harvey Garner (interim) July – August 1993 * Dr.

Joseph A. Fernandez Joseph Anthony Fernandez was the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education, "the nation's largest school," 1990–1993. Early life and education Fernandez was born in Harlem, grew up there, joined the U.S. Air Force, and "earned a hi ...

1990–1993 * Bernard Mecklowitz (interim) June – December 1989 * Dr. Richard Green 1988–1989 * Dr. Charles I. Schonhaut (acting) 1988 * Nathan Quinones 1984–1987 * Anthony J. Alvarado 1983–1984 * Richard F. Halverson (acting) 1983 *

1978–1983 * Harvey B. Scribner 1970–1973 *

1970, 1973–1978 * Nathan Brown 1969–1970 * Calvin E. Gross 1963–1965 * Bernard E. Donovan 1962–1963, 1965–1969 * John J. Theobald 1958–1962 * William Jansen 1947–1958 * John E. Wade 1942–1947 * Harold G. Campbell 1934–1942 * William J. O’Shea 1924–1934 * William L. Ettinger 1918–1924 * William H. Maxwell 1898–1918

History of position

Under NYC Board of Education

Under mayoral control

List of New York City Schools chancellors

References

Further reading