Mamdani named Kamar Samuels, currently a superintendent of District 3 on the Upper West Side, as the new schools chancellor. Samuels played a key role in increasing racial diversity during the de Blasio administration.
Samuels, 48, has served as an educator in New York City Public Schools for nearly two decades, beginning his career as an elementary school teacher before becoming a principal at the Bronx Writing Academy.
Zohran Mamdani announces next NYC Schools chancellor
"As someone who has spent nearly two decades in our classrooms, schools, and districts, I know that our students thrive when schools are fully funded, educators are supported, and systems are designed around equity and opportunity," Samuels said. "We will confront segregation, invest in our teachers, strengthen literacy and learning, and ensure that every child has the education and support they need to succeed."
He says he plans to tackle student homelessness, along with Mamdani, hire thousands of teachers, and for now, keep the Gifted and Talented program for kindergartners as is.
Samuels starts Thursday, but current Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos will stay on for the next month to assist with the transition.
The United Federation of Teachers said it supports the appointment of Samuels, noting he has "the experience and perspective" of "a former teacher and lifelong educator."
Mamdani said that while he has been skeptical of mayoral control in the past, he will maintain control of city schools, and not return to the previous decentralized model.
"So though I have held concerns about mayoral control, I also acknowledge that New Yorkers need to know where the buck stops, with me, they need to know with whom they should address their concerns and fears, they need to have a firm voice in City Hall that they can count on to not only listen, but act accordingly," Mamdani said.
In addition to the schools chancellor, Mamdani also announced four other appointments:
- Julia Kerson will be deputy mayor for operations. She is currently is in the Hochul administration, and was previously with the MTA
- Louise Yeung is Chief Climate Officer
- Ahmed Tigani is Buildings Commissioner
- Emmy Liss is executive director of the Office of Child Care
Other appointments announced this week
The new announcements come a day after the mayor-elect announced several other appointments on Tuesday.
Steve Banks will be corporation counsel, which is the city's top lawyer.
"I'm honored to be the first legal aid lawyer ever nominated for the corporation lawyer and I'm ready for this leadership role," Banks said.
Banks is the latest official of former Mayor de Blasio's administration to join Mamdani's team. He served as the Department of Social Services commissioner from 2014 to 2021 during de Blasio's entire eight-year term.
Banks joins incoming First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan, who served in the same exact role under de Blasio.
Mamdani also announced the appointment of another high-ranking city attorney. Progressive activist lawyer Ramzi Kassem represented Palestinian-Algerian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.
"Service is what I look to do and what I hope to do alongside the mayor-elect and his team at City Hall to defend the rights of all New Yorkers," Kassem said.
Standing inside Elmhurst Hospital, he announced its CEO, Helen Arteaga, will be his deputy mayor for Health and Human Services.
"It is here is where my advocacy was born," Arteaga said. "It is here where my dad died without having lack of insurance. It is here where I survived COVID."
While NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will stay on, and the fire commissioner, who is stepping down, will be replaced, there's still no word, who will be the health commissioner.
"I'm going to give you the answer that you don't want to hear, which is wait and see," Mamdani said.
Three new appointees announced for Mamdani's administration
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