It's the biggest school district in the country with more than a million students.
Many of those students may be starting the school year with big changes, especially when it comes to technology.
It's a lofty job for the person in charge, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, NYC Schools Chancellor.
Eyewitness News Anchor Shirleen Allicot spoke with the chancellor one-on-one.
"Tell me about a young Melissa," Allicot said.
"I grew up in the South Bronx," she said.
"If there was a theme song, what would it be?" Allicot asked.
"It would be 'Nadie Como Ella,' by Mark Anthony. "Yes. Listen to it on repeat. And that's actually how I learned Spanish. My mom wanted me to learn Spanish. I wasn't picking it up with her. And so I started listening to Marc Anthony. I was like, I have to know what he's saying," Aviles-Ramos said.
"That as a little girl in Soundview, right?" Allicot said.
"In Soundview, yes," she said.
"You were the first in your family to graduate?" Allicot said.
"Yes, the first of my siblings to graduate from high school and then college," Aviles-Ramos said.
"What lessons from that upbringing in the South Bronx do you carry with you today?" Allicot asked.
"How to be resilient, how to persevere. We had very, very humble beginnings. Mom struggled a lot to make sure that there was food on the table and a roof over our head. And schools weren't that safe back then. And that's why she decided to go work at the Catholic school and support my tuition in that way," Aviles-Ramos said.
"Is her experience working in schools what inspired you?" Allicot asked.
"Absolutely. I hung out with my teachers every single day. I would help them with bulletin boards," Aviles-Ramos said.
"So you end up becoming a teacher," Allicot said.
"I did. Yes. I mean. Originally, I didn't know what I was going to do. I went and studied English lit. I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to be a lawyer. And then I focused on medieval studies and I'm almost like, what are you going to do with that? It's like, I don't know, I'll figure it out," Aviles-Ramos said. "Then I saw an ad for New York City teaching fellows when I was on the train coming home from my job at Lehman Brothers."
"So you become a teacher and then you become a principal. And let me just say this correctly. Raising graduation rates dramatically at Schuyler's," Allicot said.
"Schuyler Hill Prep," she said. "You see what happens when you believe in teachers, when you believe in kids, when you work as a team, you can make big gains in a short amount of time. It's not impossible."
"So, not only that you grow up in this town, but you also have a child that goes to the New York City schools," Allicot said.
"Yes, I am a New York City public school mom," Aviles-Ramos said. "So, I truly do empathize with the parents and I'm able to connect with them in a way that is authentic, right? Like my own daughter's like, "What do you mean? We have a cell phone ban.'"
"What would that little kid from Soundview think of you right now?" Allicot asked.
"She would probably be proud. She would probably say, slow down. You talk really fast. Don't forget to eat. I'm very proud of the opportunities that I've been given," Aviles-Ramos said. "I am the teacher I've always joked of, not as a politician. I'm a teacher at heart. I'm a principal at heart. And first and foremost, I'm a mom of a New York City Public School student. And so, if nothing else, I want everyone to know that it matters to me that things are working on the ground. It matters to me that schools are safe. It matters to me that schools have all the resources that they need. Nothing is perfect, but that's why I stay connected to the community so I can know where there are challenges, and we can plan appropriately to support."
New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos will answer your questions during our annual Back to School Town Hall today at 5:00 p.m.
You can submit video and text questions for the schools chancellor and others by filling out the form below.
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