Black women get the job done!
Meisha Ross Porter will replace New York City Schools Chancellor, Richard Carranza, and become the first Black woman to lead the nation’s largest school system, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday. Currently, Porter is the executive superintendent of the Bronx. The 47-year-old will take over the school system on March 15th, which has over 1 million students and 1,800 schools.
I’ve dedicated my life to @NYCschools, and cannot imagine a greater honor than the opportunity to lead as Chancellor. @NYCmayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza have laid an incredible foundation. I am ready to hit the ground running and lead our schools to a full recovery.
— Meisha Porter (@MeishaPorter) February 26, 2021
The Queens native is a New York City public school graduate who started as a youth organizer in the Bronx’s Highbridge neighborhood. Porter has been a staple in the education department for two decades. She has served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in the Bronx. In 2018, Carranza appointed her to oversee the borough’s 361 schools in the role of executive superintendent in the Bronx.
Happy FDOS! I am NYCDOE educated. PS 123Q, JHS 210Q and QVTHS where I majored in plumbing. Our students can do anything and I am an example of that. #BackToSchoolNYC @nycschools #BronxStrong @DOEChancellor @BronxFSC @CWATSONHARRIS pic.twitter.com/wpEo0JoXKK
advertisement— Meisha Porter (@MeishaPorter) September 5, 2019
“As a lifelong New Yorker, a product of our City’s public schools, and a career educator, it is the honor of my lifetime to serve as Chancellor,” Porter said in a statement. “Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza have laid an incredible foundation for me, and I am ready to hit the ground running and lead New York City schools to a full recovery.”
Mayor de Blasio said this was an exciting time for the New York City school system, and it was an honor to have her at the helm.
“Today is an historic day for New York City schools. Meisha Porter is a homegrown New Yorker who knows what it takes to give every kid the high-quality public school education they deserve,” de Blasio said in a press release. “Together, we care going to build on the work that Richard Carranza has led in guiding the nation’s largest school system through the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting social and emotional learning, and making unprecedented gains for equity in our schools.”
According to the press release, “as executive superintendent since 2018, Porter has overseen the largest gains in graduation rates of any borough in that time, from 67.4 in 2018 to 73.0 – a 5.7% point increase, as compared to a 2.8 point increase citywide. Postsecondary enrollment in the Bronx has also had a substantial increase under her tenure, with 54.9% of the 9th-grade cohort for the Class of 2019 enrolling in college, a 1.2 increase from the Class of 2018.”
“I’m so excited that Meisha Porter has been named the next chancellor of NYC Schools. Meisha is an incredible leader and visionary and has a deep love of our children, families, and communities,” U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman said in a statement. “She is a listener, a learner, and lives and breathes equity. I cannot wait to work with her to build a better education system for our kids.”
Madam Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter. Let us repeat those words. Madam. Chancellor. Meisha. Ross. Porter. We couldn’t be prouder of our friend and our @EquityFellows, @MeishaPorter. But more than that we’re excited to have a proud champion of equity as the new @NYCSchools leader. pic.twitter.com/MaZx2wOxbh
advertisement— Big Picture Learning (@bigpiclearning) February 26, 2021
We congratulate Meisha Ross Porter on her historic appointment and look forward to working with her to ensure a successful transition as she takes the helm during this unparalleled year. https://t.co/zNWN0NEyec
advertisement— CSA (@FollowCSA) February 26, 2021
So excited to learn that Meisha Ross-Porter will lead the DOE! Our city’s schools need help and I’m confident she can get the job done!https://t.co/51JcIj5g2U
— Rita Joseph #BlackLivesMatter (@RitaJosephNYC) February 26, 2021
Black history is still being made. Meisha Ross-Porter is the first Black woman to be chancellor of NYC schools!
— Prof. Saint-Pierre (@nancytaughtyou) February 26, 2021
Porter comes from a family of educators. Her mother was a single mom who went back to school to finish her degree and become an educator. She said her upbringing taught her the power of public education and the difference one teacher can make.
Black educators with heart are exactly what the city needs! Congratulations, Chancellor Porter!
Photo Credit: NYC Department Of Education