Last week, my first as your New York City Public Schools Chancellor, was both energizing and deeply moving. I visited schools across the five boroughs, and I met with students, staff, families, and community members—and their ideas and reflections continue to inspire me.
Last Monday, I visited classrooms at PS/MS 194 in the Bronx, the school where I taught in the early 2000s. I was welcomed by some familiar faces, including my former student Abdulla, who stopped by just for the visit. His presence was especially meaningful. When Abdulla was a student, he did not always feel a strong sense of belonging at school. At the time, I tried to address that by playing soccer and running races with him. As he shared with me during our visit, those small moments helped him feel seen and understood.
That experience continues to shape how I think about our work today. I am committed to leading a system that prioritizes student support, nurturing environments, and high-quality, culturally responsive instruction. As an NYCPS educator and leader of over 20 years, and as the proud parent of two NYCPS students, I believe that every child deserves safe, academically rigorous, and truly integrated schools. You can learn more about these focus areas in my recent message to families.
I look forward to partnering with you as we prepare our students (like Abdulla, who is now thriving in his career!) for bright, successful futures.
In partnership,
Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor