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Over my first 100 days as Chancellor, I heard directly from New York City students, families, staff, and community members who shared what data and statistics alone could never tell us.
I met with thousands of people in schools across the five boroughs.
People love their public schools and want the world to see the great work happening inside them.
Students feel safe when connected to a community of peers and adults.
Students want to feel challenged and supported. They want access to exciting curriculum and meaningful real-world experiences.
Families want clear communication and real influence in shaping the priorities of our schools.
Quality education shouldn't depend on your address. True integration means bilingual and specialized programs, culturally responsive curricula, diverse staff, and high expectations for all students.
To everyone who showed up, I heard you and I thank you.
Your voices have given us a clear roadmap. Let's keep working together, hand in hand, to lift up our children.
View the Report
After more than 20 years working in our schools as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, I took on the role of Chancellor with clear priorities on what each of our students deserves: a safe, academically rigorous, and truly integrated school.
Every child is entitled to feel physically and emotionally safe, to know that they belong, and that their voice matters. Every child is entitled to academically challenging and supportive classrooms, with access to high-quality programs and opportunities. And every child is entitled to see their own story reflected in their learning, and to learn about the stories of others. To me, this is what safety, academic rigor, and true integration are all about.
I knew these priorities would be incomplete without the input, expertise, and perspectives of our families, students, and staff. To truly lead our schools, I wanted to listen to the thoughts, ideas, and real concerns of our communities.
Chancellor's Engagement
The school communities I spoke with shared that students thrive when they have solid, positive relationships with peers and trusted adults who truly know them. They spoke about the importance of teachers, social workers, guidance counselors, empathetic educators, and community support systems that help students feel grounded and connected.
The school communities I spoke with told us that students feel safe when they have a space to share their ideas, opinions, and perspectives with others in their schools.
The school communities I spoke with asked for improved coordination between NYCPS and local community groups to ensure our children get to and from school safely.
The school communities I spoke with said hands-on, project-based learning experiences help students stay engaged, collaborate with peers, and feel more excited about learning.
The school communities I spoke with said students enjoyed having opportunities to gain real-world experience and develop skills that support long-term success and social mobility.
The school communities I spoke with said math is very important and that we need to double down on making math fun, easier to learn, and inspiring for all students.
The school communities I spoke with suggested we deliver better support for teachers on new curriculum, instruction, and technology.
The school communities I spoke with shared that they want clear guidance on how students and teachers may use artificial intelligence.
The school communities I spoke with said that having access to culturally responsive curriculum has supported their students and helped create a culture of belonging and understanding in the classroom.
The school communities I spoke with shared that they like the Nest, AIMS, and Horizon specialized programs, which ensure all adults in the building are trained on the principles of inclusion, creating very positive environments for all students—including those with disabilities.
The school communities I spoke with shared that we live in a polarized society where it can be challenging to build bridges across differences. In our schools, we need to foster understanding, empathy, and tolerance for one another.
The school communities I spoke with said that students need to see themselves in their school leaders and teachers.
The school communities I spoke with shared that every student should have access to high-quality schools in every zip code in every neighborhood.
The school communities I spoke with said supporting parent coordinators is a high priority. Across the city, we heard praise and gratitude for parent coordinators.
The school communities I spoke with said families want to be actual decision-makers at the table. They asked for clearer communication, language access, and transparency around the choices that we make for our students and school communities.
The school communities I spoke with asked that we use clear, concise, and accessible language to communicate with families. This will help to better engage families in their child's education and school community. They also said that translation and interpretation are critical for our diverse school communities.
The themes highlighted in this report represent what we heard across all five boroughs. In each borough, we heard a few specific themes.
The school communities I spoke with from the Bronx focused on the strong connections they see between school safety and academic rigor. Participants requested targeted investments to improve buildings and address service gaps.
The school communities I spoke with from Brooklyn appreciated the Hidden Voices curriculum, which features profiles of individuals who have made a positive impact on their communities but are often “hidden” from the traditional historical record. Some participants also highlighted concerns about safety outside of school buildings.
The school communities I spoke with from Manhattan raised concerns about Artificial Intelligence and the use of digital technology in schools.
The school communities I spoke with from Queens appreciated the after-school and other enrichment opportunities offered in their schools. They also noted that many schools in the borough are crowded and lack space.
The school communities I spoke with in Staten Island shared that many of their school buildings have functioned as spaces that residents have used for community purposes, including during bad weather events. They also discussed the impact of the borough’s relative lack of reliable public transportation and its impact on family engagement and access to programs in their borough.
I’ve taken the concerns, ideas, and thoughts shared by communities during my first 100 days to anchor and shape my priorities for the future of NYCPS.
Safety and BelongingAll students will learn in environments where they feel safe, supported, respected, and experience a strong sense of belonging within their school community.
Academic RigorAll students have access to real-world opportunities and an evidence-based curriculum that is consistently implemented across classrooms. Instruction is culturally responsive, academically rigorous, exciting, and enables students to achieve their fullest potential.
True IntegrationTrue integration is a school improvement strategy that creates safe, supportive, and academically rigorous schools for all students. When our schools reflect the diversity of our city, our students, families, and communities thrive.
As an early step in this work, NYCPS is launching district working groups beginning in Districts 3, 7, 13, 16, and 25. These groups will bring together educators, families, students, and community members to help shape district-specific approaches to integration and opportunity and ensure community voice remains central to this work.
Family EngagementAll families, educators, and community leaders come together to shape the school’s mission and programs.
My Framework for Education Transformation is one built around the interconnectedness of my priorities: safety and belonging, academic rigor, and true integration. Each is a piece of the puzzle, and success requires that we engage with families and communities in support of all students.
