David Banks reflects on his time as New York City schools chancellor
NEW YORK -- Tuesday was last day on the job for New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, whose retirement takes effect Wednesday, the Department of Education confirms.
Banks has been leading the DOE since Mayor Eric Adams took office, and ushered in a new phonics-based reading curriculum. The chancellor started his nearly 40-year career as a school safety agent in Brooklyn, and then went on to become a teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Banks says being associated with "mess" is "bothersome"
Banks and Adams had initially announced Banks would retire at the end of the calendar year, insisting all along that stepping aside had nothing to do with the federal investigation into the Adams administration, in which Banks' cellphones were seized. Then roughly a week later, City Hall said he would actually be leaving months earlier.
CBS News New York education reporter Doug Williams spoke exclusively with David Banks on Tuesday.
"Here we are. It's October 15th, tomorrow being the first day of Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. Were you surprised by the sort of expedited retirement?" Williams asked.
"I thought a responsible leadership transition would have taken me to the end of the year. That's what I had said. That's what the mayor and I had agreed to. And he had a change of heart," Banks said.
Banks is among the mayor's top officials whose homes were raided by federal agents on Sept. 4, along with his now-wife Sheena Wright and his brothers, Philip and Terence Banks.
Wright and Philip Banks III have since resigned from their positions as first deputy and deputy mayor. None of the officials who had their phones seized that day have been charged with any crimes.
"When I think about the mixed emotions that I have now, it is bothersome to me to be associated with any kind of negativity or mess. In 40 years, I've never been associated with any kind of negativity, ever. And at the end of my career, to be in a position where you know, your phones were taken and you're not entirely sure why or where that investigation, what it's really all about and to have aspersions cast at my character, is something that I take great exception to. I have great confidence that when all of this is said and done, wherever it's going, certainly won't effect me," Banks said.
How Banks wants to be remembered
Tuesday afternoon, Banks addressed fellow educators, DOE staffers and leaders.
"Our schools are moving in the right direction because of you. And I just want you to know how much I appreciate you," he said.
He added, "I look at my chancellorship as having led through a storm. Say 'amen,' somebody."
As part of a tradition, Banks rang the bell on the third floor of DOE headquarters, signaling a new leader of city schools.
"When you look back at your time as chancellor, how do you want to be remembered? And do you think it's the same way that you will be remembered? Do you think those two things are the same?" Williams asked.
"The two are the same. I think I will be remembered probably first and foremost for what we did around literacy ... We're not all the way there yet, but we are absolutely on the right track," Banks said.
More changes in the Adams administration
On Tuesday, Adams named Chauncey Parker to replace Philip Banks III as deputy mayor for public safety. Parker has served as assistant deputy mayor for public safety since July.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan also told his staff Tuesday morning that Friday will be his last day. The health commissioner previously announced he planned to leave at the end of the year, citing personal reasons.
The Department of Health says Dr. Michelle Morse, the city's chief medical officer and deputy commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, will take over as interim commissioner.
The mayor has insisted there is no shortage of people who want to join his administration despite the fact that he has been indicted on bribery and corruption charges.
"We had nine, nine requests to fill this position [deputy mayor] from outside of the agency, people wanting to come in and continue to do the work that Deputy Mayor Banks did," Adams said.
Banks, meanwhile, is being replaced by Deputy Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who the mayor touted as the "highest ranking Latina and Spanish-speaking leader in the New York City Public Schools."
Aviles-Ramos, a Bronx native, is a 17-year veteran of city schools and started her career teaching English.
"I'm an English teacher, and my focus is on making sure our students feel seen, heard and supported," she told CBS News New York's Doug Williams.