Join Eyewitness News This Morning anchors Shirleen Allicot and Pedro Rivera as they moderate the discussion with New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels and other officials and educators from New York City schools.
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Watch the Eyewitness News Back to School Town Hall on Wednesday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m. right here on abc7ny.com.
Meet the participants:
Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels
Kamar H. Samuels is the Chancellor of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), the largest school system in the nation. A veteran educator with more than two decades of experience and an NYCPS parent himself, Chancellor Samuels has devoted his career to advancing student achievement, strengthening instructional practice, and building schools that are safe, academically rigorous, and truly integrated.
Appointed in 2026, Chancellor Samuels is focused on the core priorities that make schools successful and on engaging closely with educators, families, and students. He believes schools should reflect what makes New York City unique, embracing our rich diversity through learning experiences grounded in cultural understanding and respect. He leads with the conviction that all children deserve schools where they feel safe and valued, are challenged academically, and are prepared to thrive in college, careers, and life.
Read his full bio here.
Danielle Giunta, First Deputy Chancellor
Danielle Giunta serves as First Deputy Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, bringing more than two decades of experience leading instruction, operations, and community engagement across the nation's largest school system. In this role she oversees key offices that include District Planning, Enrollment, New School Development & Design, Policy & Evaluation, Student Pathways, Academics & Instruction, and our 44 community and high school superintendents, driving district-wide improvement, strategic support, and leadership development.
Read more about her here.
Christina Foti, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning
Christina Foti is the Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL) at New York City Public Schools. She oversees the Special Education Office, the Office of Multilingual Learners, the Committees on Special Education (CSEs), the Committees on Preschool Special Education (CPSEs), and District 75. Nearly four in ten students in NYCPS are multilingual learners, students with disabilities, or both. This places DIAL's work at the center of NYCPS's mission to ensure access to high-quality, inclusive learning environments.
Read more about her here.
Mark Rampersant, Chief of Safety and Prevention Partnerships
Mark Rampersant serves as the Chief of Safety and Prevention Partnerships for New York City Public Schools, where he leads the comprehensive safety infrastructure for the largest public school system in the country.
With more than 25 years of leadership within NYC Public Schools, Chief Rampersant oversees integrated systems that address physical safety, behavioral health, threat assessment, gang prevention and intervention, cyber safety, restorative practices, and school climate. His office establishes clear protocols, drives coordinated incident response, and ensures schools are prepared to respond effectively to complex and evolving safety challenges. His leadership ensures that safety efforts are proactive, data informed and grounded in both accountability and care.
Read more about him here.
Emmy Liss, Executive Director for the Mayor's Office of Child Care
Emmy Liss is an early childhood policy and system leader with over a decade of experience designing and implementing large-scale child care and early education initiatives. Her work has focused on building equitable, accessible systems through strategic planning, cross-agency collaboration, and operational leadership. Over the course of her career, she has played a key role in shaping early care and education policy in New York City.
Read more about her here.