New York City's School Chancellor Seeks to Keep Her Job Amid Calls to Reform Education System
Education Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos is pushing back against criticism from the incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who has vowed to end mayoral control of schools. However, Aviles-Ramos says she can implement many of her opponent's proposed changes without losing her job.
The current chancellor argues that community engagement in education is crucial and should be strengthened through existing structures, such as the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) and parent advisory councils. She believes these groups have a role to play in implementing reforms, but also recognizes the need for accountability and transparency in decision-making processes.
Aviles-Ramos' approach contrasts with Mamdani's calls for greater parental involvement in education policy, which he says has been lacking under mayoral control. While the outgoing chancellor has implemented some notable initiatives, such as literacy instruction overhauls and support programs for homeless students, many educators are concerned about the consistency of policies across administrations.
In an interview, Aviles-Ramos acknowledged that her role should be to advocate for herself and stay in the position she currently holds. She believes her experience running the education department during a time of scandal and change has equipped her with the necessary skills to navigate complex issues and push through reforms from within the system.
Critics argue that Aviles-Ramos' approach may not go far enough, but others praise her for taking steps towards greater community engagement and parental involvement. As the new mayor prepares to take office, it remains unclear whether Aviles-Ramos will be able to maintain her position or if Mamdani's vision for reform will prevail.
According to professor Ester Fuchs of Columbia University, Aviles-Ramos has a strong argument for staying in her role, given her experience and ability to keep the education system running despite recent challenges. However, Fuchs also cautions that ending mayoral control would be a significant change, one that could have far-reaching implications for how education policy is developed.
Ultimately, the debate over Aviles-Ramos' future and the direction of New York City's education system will depend on the priorities of the incoming mayor and the input of the community. As the city prepares to embark on this new chapter in its educational journey, one thing is clear: the role of parents, educators, and policymakers will be crucial in shaping the future of public education in New York City.
Education Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos is pushing back against criticism from the incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who has vowed to end mayoral control of schools. However, Aviles-Ramos says she can implement many of her opponent's proposed changes without losing her job.
The current chancellor argues that community engagement in education is crucial and should be strengthened through existing structures, such as the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) and parent advisory councils. She believes these groups have a role to play in implementing reforms, but also recognizes the need for accountability and transparency in decision-making processes.
Aviles-Ramos' approach contrasts with Mamdani's calls for greater parental involvement in education policy, which he says has been lacking under mayoral control. While the outgoing chancellor has implemented some notable initiatives, such as literacy instruction overhauls and support programs for homeless students, many educators are concerned about the consistency of policies across administrations.
In an interview, Aviles-Ramos acknowledged that her role should be to advocate for herself and stay in the position she currently holds. She believes her experience running the education department during a time of scandal and change has equipped her with the necessary skills to navigate complex issues and push through reforms from within the system.
Critics argue that Aviles-Ramos' approach may not go far enough, but others praise her for taking steps towards greater community engagement and parental involvement. As the new mayor prepares to take office, it remains unclear whether Aviles-Ramos will be able to maintain her position or if Mamdani's vision for reform will prevail.
According to professor Ester Fuchs of Columbia University, Aviles-Ramos has a strong argument for staying in her role, given her experience and ability to keep the education system running despite recent challenges. However, Fuchs also cautions that ending mayoral control would be a significant change, one that could have far-reaching implications for how education policy is developed.
Ultimately, the debate over Aviles-Ramos' future and the direction of New York City's education system will depend on the priorities of the incoming mayor and the input of the community. As the city prepares to embark on this new chapter in its educational journey, one thing is clear: the role of parents, educators, and policymakers will be crucial in shaping the future of public education in New York City.
I'm telling you, there's more to this story than meets the eye... Think about it, Aviles-Ramos wants to keep her job despite criticism from Mamdani, what if she's not doing enough to reform the system? Maybe she's just trying to hold on to power. And then there's the Panel for Educational Policy and parent advisory councils, sounds like a way to keep people in line while still making it look like community engagement is happening 
... What about all those scandals during her time as education department head, did she really "get away" with anything? This whole thing just smells like a cover-up to me 
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. Meanwhile, educators are over here like "yeah, good luck with that"... consistency is key, right? 
I mean, it's not like the system has been working perfectly or anything (just saying).
Some would say that's not exactly a track record of accountability and transparency. 
she's already done a lot for the city's education system, like literacy instruction overhauls and support programs for homeless students, so it makes sense that she'd want to see some of those initiatives through. plus, i think community engagement is super important in education - its all about finding ways to make things work within the existing structures, rather than trying to tear everything down from scratch 
. I know some people might see it as an overreach, but if we can get more parents involved in decision-making processes, that could lead to better outcomes for kids.
. It's great to see people like Aviles-Ramos emphasizing the importance of engaging with parents and communities, but what happens when we're talking about real change? Do we need more pressure from outside forces or will community leaders start taking ownership of these issues? 
anyway, i think she's on the right track by saying community engagement is key... but honestly, how many times can we keep trying the same thing and expecting different results? 
. If she can keep community engagement strong and maintain some level of autonomy, that's already a win for schools 
. The real test will come when the new mayor takes office and we see how they balance community input with policy implementation 
. Literally, according to my quick Google search, literacy instruction overhauls have increased by 30% since she took office 
. Not bad for a chancellor who's being pushed out the door 
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. If he wants to shake things up, he'll need to get community buy-in 
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. According to this one study from 2019, cities with mayoral control tend to have higher student test scores 
. More research is needed to determine the best approach for NYC 
. One thing's for sure: parents, educators, and policymakers will be crucial in shaping the future of public education 
she's got experience on her side and knows how to navigate complex issues 
plus community engagement is key in education, imo 
the thing that worries me is if mamdani's reforms come in too quickly, it might disrupt the system too much 
but at the same time, i think parents and educators need a stronger say in decision-making processes 
gotta find that balance 
and change is hard to navigate. but at the same time, i feel like mamdani's ideas aren't totally far-fetched either... parental involvement in education policy can be super helpful, especially when it comes to making decisions that affect students' lives.