Veteran Educator Kamar Samuels Tapped as Next NYC Schools Chancellor

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is expected to announce Wednesday the appointment of Kamar Samuels, a longtime city educator and current Manhattan superintendent, as the next schools chancellor, according to multiple reports first published in City & State.

Samuels, who has worked in the New York City public school system for nearly two decades, will oversee the nation’s largest public school system, responsible for the education of more than 900,000 students across approximately 1,600 schools with a workforce of 135,000 employees.

The appointment signals a significant shift in education policy under Mamdani’s incoming administration. Samuels has established a reputation for promoting racial diversity through school mergers and has previously worked to reform the controversial Gifted & Talented program, which critics have long argued perpetuates racial disparities in educational opportunity.

During his tenure in Brooklyn’s school district under the de Blasio administration, Samuels led integration efforts aimed at increasing diversity in middle schools, according to education news outlet Chalkbeat. He has also been a proponent of the International Baccalaureate program, which he has described as aligning with his educational philosophy of expanding student opportunities while investing in teacher development.

“It’s a politically challenging assignment to run District 3, really, and he ran it at a very challenging time,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine told City & State. “He consistently just showed incredible sensitivity and nuance and stuck to his principles.”

The selection of Samuels appears to reinforce Mamdani’s campaign promise to reshape education policy in the city. In October, Mamdani told The New York Times he intended to revive a plan first proposed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021, which sought to eliminate the Gifted & Talented test for kindergartners in favor of a universal assessment in second grade—a plan that was halted when Mayor Eric Adams took office.

Samuels brings extensive experience from multiple roles within the city’s education system. He began his career as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx before advancing to become a middle school principal in the same borough. His administrative career continued as deputy superintendent in Brooklyn’s Community School District 23, then as superintendent of Community School District 13, before assuming his current position as superintendent of Manhattan’s District 3.

The incoming schools chancellor will face significant challenges upon taking office. New York City’s public school system has been grappling with declining enrollment, pandemic learning loss, budget constraints, and ongoing debates about how to address educational inequities across the five boroughs. Many education advocates are watching closely to see how Samuels will approach these issues.

Samuels will replace outgoing Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who reportedly had sought to remain in the position. The leadership transition comes as Mamdani prepares to be sworn in as New York City’s next mayor on January 1, 2026.

The appointment is part of a series of key administrative selections by Mamdani as he assembles his team ahead of taking office. His transition has drawn attention for several controversial appointments, including individuals with backgrounds that have raised questions among some community leaders and political observers.

Mamdani’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment about Samuels’ appointment, though an official announcement is expected Wednesday.