Melissa Aviles-Ramos named next NYC schools chancellor after David Banks announces retirement
NEW YORK -- Deputy Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos will be the next New York City schools chancellor, Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday.
The announcement came after Banks revealed Tuesday he will retire at the end of the year.
The change comes after Banks and several other top Adams' officials had their homes raided and phones seized by federal agents earlier this month, though officials insist the schools chancellor's retirement was already in the works.
Banks' retirement will be effective Dec. 31.
Aviles-Ramos has been overseeing family engagement and earned the mayor's praise in recent years for her work incorporating migrant families into schools.
"She's been on the ground, folks"
Adams hailed Aviles-Ramos as "a Bronx leader" and "a symbol of what good things can come out of, not only public school, but comes out of the Bronx."
Aviles-Ramos, a Bronx native, is 17-year veteran of New York City Public Schools and started her career as an English teacher, then became an assistant principal, principal, deputy superintendent, acting superintendent and then an administrator and deputy chancellor.
"She's the highest ranking Latina and Spanish-speaking leader in the New York City Public Schools," Adams said. "She's been on the ground, folks. She believes in the children of this city. She's the right woman for the right time."
Aviles-Ramos says she's "a symbol of stability"
"Mayor Adams, I won't let you down, because I won't let New York City down," Aviles-Ramos said.
She thanked Banks for mentoring her, and said she knows how destabilizing a new chancellor can be to city educators. She tried to reassure teachers that she represents continuity with Banks.
"People start to worry about stability, continuity. 'What's gonna happen? We started these amazing things and now we don't get to see them through.' I want you to know, I want you to see me as a symbol of stability, of commitment," Aviles-Ramos said.
Banks looks back on his career and discusses retirement
Banks reflected on his nearly 40-year career in education at the announcement of his successor.
"I am so grateful to have served New York City's families and children now for almost 40 years," Banks said. "As a product of New York City Public Schools, New York City Public Schools did well by me, and my family, my brothers, and it has been a real blessing to me to have been a product of this school system."
Banks started his career as a school safety agent in Brooklyn in 1985. He went on to become a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and then chancellor.
Adams praised Banks as a man who "showed up every day" and "gave it his all" in his role as schools chancellor. Adams said Banks brought Aviles-Ramos back into the Department of Education from a position at Monroe College months ago to prepare her to take over once he retires.
"He started the preparation ahead of time," Adams said. "We wanted to make sure that we had an authentic, organic, real person to fulfill the role that a real person laid out. We found it in Melissa."
In a letter announcing his retirement, Banks said serving as the city's chancellor "has been a profound honor," and he will do "everything possible to ensure a smooth transition." He also said he told Adams his plans to retire this year before he was raided by the feds.
Adams team in turmoil
Banks is the latest top official in the mayor's inner circle to announce their departure amid the ongoing federal investigations at City Hall. He denied that the federal raid on his Hamilton Heights home, in which his cellphones were confiscated, along with those belonging to his partner, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, had anything to do with his decision to retire.
"I'll tell you, quite honestly, I was so concerned about that because the mayor and I have been talking about this for quite some time and I said now everyone is going to think I'm leaving because of this stuff. It had nothing top do with that," Banks said. "After 40 years I'm tired and that's the God's honest truth."
Banks said that he and the mayor planned an organized transition and that he is leaving the post with no regrets.
"I gave it everything that I had and when you realize that you don't have that much more to give. I poured it all out. This work is never done. It's not like mission accomplished, but I will tell you the work goes on," Banks said.
Earlier this week, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said he will step down in January. And earlier this month, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg announced her resignation, and former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban left his post after the feds also seized his devices, and those of his twin brother, James Caban.
CBS News New York also learned Edward Caban's interim replacement, Tom Donlon, had his homes searched by federal investigators. He said agents "took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department."
Meanwhile, Adams' lawyers were subpoenaed over his dealings with Turkey and five other foreign governments, sources say. Investigators have been looking into whether his 2021 campaign received illegal donations in exchange for pressuring the FDNY to approve plans for a new Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
Kramer asked the mayor Tuesday whether the flurry of the investigations is impacting the city's ability to fill the open positions in his administration.
"City government is a deep bench and we have a reservoir of talent in this city," Adams replied. "We're not going to have a problem filling any of these positions, people want to be in city government."
No charges have been filed in any of the investigations, and the mayor has said he is fully cooperating.