Our Schools, Our Voice: Democratize the NYC Chancellor Selection

Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani

New York City’s public schools serve over one million students. Yet, the people most impacted by decisions about our education system—students, families, and educators—have little to no say in who leads it. Under Mayoral Control, the selection of the Schools Chancellor happens behind closed doors, shutting out community voices and undermining democratic participation.

At a time when democracy is under threat nationally, New York City must lead by example. A community-driven, transparent process for selecting the next Schools Chancellor is a powerful opportunity to restore trust, share power, and ensure our school system reflects the needs and values of New Yorkers.

Students, parents, educators, and school communities bring lived experience and critical insight into what strong, equitable leadership looks like. Including them meaningfully in the selection process will result in a Chancellor who is better equipped to serve all students—especially Black, Latino, immigrant, disabled, and low-income communities who have historically been excluded from decision-making.

New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools (RJPS) has already outlined a clear and achievable pathway for a democratic Chancellor selection process in its Beyond the Moment policy roadmap. What’s needed now is political will.

We call on city leadership to publicly commit to a community-centered, democratic process for selecting the next leader of New York City’s public schools. Our schools—and our democracy—are stronger when the people have a voice.

To: Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani
From: [Your Name]

The Honorable Zohran Mamdani
Mayor-elect
City of New York

Dear Mayor-elect Mamdani,

As a New Yorker who deeply cares about public education and our democracy, I have been inspired by your commitment to reimagining how city government works. You now have a meaningful opportunity to bring that vision to life through your choice of New York City’s next Schools Chancellor.

I strongly urge you to commit to a community-driven selection process that ensures New Yorkers have a real voice in who leads our public school system.

I make this request as someone who believes in participatory decision-making and the sharing of power—especially at a moment when our democracy is being steadily eroded at the federal level. For far too long, students, educators, and families have been excluded from democratic decision-making under Mayoral Control. A transparent, inclusive Chancellor selection process is one concrete way to restore our collective voice and indispensable input to City Hall.

New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools (RJPS) has already outlined a clear and actionable pathway to achieve this goal in our Beyond the Moment policy roadmap.

Allowing New Yorkers to play a meaningful role in selecting the next Chancellor aligns directly with your stated commitments to transparency, fairness, and equity. This moment offers an opportunity to advance a vision for public education that is truly high-quality and equitable—and for you to model a different approach to leadership, deliver on your stated values, and build public trust.

I urge you to publicly commit to a democratic, community-centered process for selecting the next leader of New York City’s public schools.