New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels has outlined an education agenda centered on academic rigor, equity, and school integration during his first week leading the nation's largest public school system.
Samuels, who took office on Jan. 1, 2026, under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, sent a letter to Education Department staff outlining his vision for the city's more than 900,000 public school students. In the letter, he stated that every student deserves a school that is "academically rigorous, safe, and truly integrated."
A Vision for Equity and Integration
The new chancellor emphasized that equity involves concrete choices rather than abstract concepts. He told families that schools should reflect the city's rich diversity through both student body composition and culturally responsive teaching practices.
His approach aims to balance high academic expectations with inclusive education for all students, regardless of their background, according to the New York Times.
School integration represents a significant priority for Samuels, who has experience addressing segregation issues in his previous roles.
As superintendent of Manhattan's District 3 and Brooklyn's District 13, he implemented school mergers, changed admissions policies, and phased out some gifted and talented programs to promote socioeconomic and racial diversity. He secured more than $10 million across two districts to advance integration efforts.
On academic rigor, Samuels emphasized maintaining high expectations and quality instruction. He led the transition from the Teachers College Reading Program to a curriculum aligned with the science of reading, which resulted in a five percent increase in literacy scores in the first year.
He also oversaw the launch of 17 International Baccalaureate programs as a more inclusive approach to advanced education, The Arab Daily News reported.
Building on Past Success and Facing New Challenges
Samuels began his education career in 2001 as a sixth-grade math teacher at P.S./M.S. 194 in the Bronx, where he spent his first day as chancellor reconnecting with the school community. He also served as principal of the Bronx Writing Academy before taking on leadership roles at the district level.
The chancellor faces significant challenges, including addressing achievement gaps based on race and socioeconomic status, managing teacher recruitment and retention to meet class size reduction mandates, and supporting the more than 150,000 homeless students in the system.
He has pledged to work closely with families, educators, and students to ensure their voices shape education policy.
Samuels replaces Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who led the school system for the final 14 months of the Adams administration. Education advocates have expressed support for his appointment while urging the administration to prioritize students who are often overlooked, as per CBS News.
