Meet the Chancellor and senior leaders who lead New York City Public Schools (NYCPS).
Kamar H. Samuels, Chancellor
Kamar H. Samuels is Chancellor of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), the largest school system in the nation. A veteran educator with more than two decades of experience and an NYCPS parent himself, Chancellor Samuels has devoted his career to advancing student achievement, strengthening instructional practice, and building schools that are safe, academically rigorous, and truly integrated.
Appointed in 2026, Chancellor Samuels is focused on the core priorities that make schools successful and on engaging closely with educators, families, and students. He believes schools should reflect what makes New York City unique, embracing its rich diversity through learning experiences grounded in cultural understanding and respect.
Before dedicating his career to public education, Chancellor Samuels built a foundation in leadership and operations through his work in finance, including as a Finance Manager at the National Basketball Association. He began his career in NYCPS through the NYC Teaching Fellows program as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx. He later served as principal of the Bronx Writing Academy and held senior leadership roles in NYCPS central offices, including Executive Director of District School Design and Senior Director of Partnerships and Initiatives.
He went on to serve as a deputy superintendent in Brooklyn and as a superintendent in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In these roles, Chancellor Samuels led implementation of NYC Reads, contributing to a five percent increase in literacy outcomes, advanced school integration efforts, and oversaw the launch of multiple International Baccalaureate programs.
Chancellor Samuels holds degrees from Baruch College and Lehman College and New York State certifications in school and district leadership.
Danielle Giunta, First Deputy Chancellor
Danielle Giunta serves as First Deputy Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, bringing more than two decades of experience leading instruction, operations, and community engagement across the nation’s largest school system. In this role she oversees key offices that include District Planning, Enrollment, New School Development & Design, Policy & Evaluation, Student Pathways, Academics & Instruction, and our 44 community and high school superintendents, driving district-wide improvement, strategic support, and leadership development.
She partners closely with the Chancellor to advance systemwide coherence, strengthen leadership at every level, and ensure equitable access to high-quality teaching and learning for all students.
Prior to her appointment, Danielle served as Chief of School Leadership Development, providing senior system leadership for the development of superintendents, deputy superintendents, Executive Directors of School Support and Organization, and principals. She previously served as Community Superintendent of Community School District 26, overseeing 28 schools and leading districtwide efforts that resulted in improved student outcomes, expanded early childhood access, and national recognition for academic excellence.
Danielle began her career as a classroom teacher and has also served as an assistant principal, principal and network leader. Her leadership is collaborative, data-informed, and grounded in trust, transparency, and community voice. She is deeply committed to advancing equity, excellence, and opportunity for every student in New York City Public Schools.
A lifelong New Yorker and proud graduate of NYCPS schools, Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood & Elementary Education, a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Leadership and an advanced certificate in School/District Administration and Supervision.
Dr. Alan Y. Cheng, Supervising Superintendent of High Schools and District 79
Dr. Alan Y. Cheng serves as Senior Supervising Superintendent of High Schools and District 79, where he oversees high school leadership development and performance across New York City Public Schools. He works in close partnership with the Offices of Academics and Instruction, Student Pathways, Policy and Evaluation, Enrollment, District Planning, and New School Development and Design to ensure coherence, rigor, and equitable access to opportunity for high school students citywide.
With nearly two decades of experience in New York City Public Schools, as a teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and superintendent, Dr. Cheng has centered his leadership on strengthening instructional quality and expanding postsecondary pathways aligned with evolving graduation expectations, college, careers, and engaged civic life. Most recently, he led a citywide district of 51 high schools across all five boroughs. Under his leadership, these schools expanded support for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, broadened access to early college credit and paid work-based learning, and helped students earn college credit and paid experience that reduce the cost of postsecondary education.
Dr. Cheng holds an Ed.D. in Urban Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, as well as graduate degrees from Teachers College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla, Supervising Superintendent of Elementary & Middle Schools
Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla is a distinguished leader whose journey began as a student in New York City Public Schools. Born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, she began her career as an elementary school teacher and rose through the ranks to serve as a teacher leader, literacy coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, Deputy Superintendent, Community School District Superintendent, and, most recently, Chief of School Support. With 28 years of service, she is committed to advancing educational equity and to building leaders' capacity to drive transformative, sustainable change. From student to educator to district leader, and now in her central leadership role, her journey reflects a full-circle moment—one deeply rooted in love, service, and an unwavering belief in the brilliance of public school educators and their ability to elevate all students.
As Chief of School Support, she partnered with 18 Community School Superintendents across the Bronx and Brooklyn to strengthen instructional coherence and align citywide initiatives. She fostered leadership development, cross-district collaboration, and data-informed practices that promote continuous improvement, while serving as a strategic thought partner to district leaders in navigating complex challenges and advancing systemwide priorities. Previously, as Superintendent of Community School District 10 in the Bronx, serving 59 schools, Dr. Torres-Hulla championed innovation, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices, ensuring every child’s potential was recognized and nurtured. She led with a clear vision for equity and excellence, building strong partnerships with families and communities to elevate outcomes and create thriving, student-centered learning environments.
Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fordham University, a Master of Science in Supervision and Administration from Touro College, a Master of Science in Reading, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Brooklyn College. Passionate about collaboration and the exchange of ideas, she is dedicated to unlocking leadership potential and helping students thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Kenita Lloyd, Chief of Staff to the Chancellor
Kenita Lloyd has served as Chief of Staff to the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools since July 2024. In this role, Kenita has brought consistency and strategic vision to the organization, driving collaboration across teams in support of key priorities like NYC Reads, NYC Solves, Student Pathways, AI, and more. She also manages external affairs within the Chancellor’s Office, supporting partnerships with elected officials and advocates, and creating opportunities for community members to interact directly with the Chancellor. Her work demonstrates an unwavering commitment to students and families, especially those facing the greatest challenges.
Prior to that, Kenita served as Chief Operations Officer at The Eagle Academy Foundation, Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, COO and Interim President at the Africa Center. She has also held leadership roles at the National Action Network and the New York City Mission Society (Minisink Townhouse).
Michael Cheatham, Acting Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Finance, Administration, & Human Resources
Michael Cheatham serves as Acting Deputy Chancellor of Finance, Administration, & Human Resources for New York City Public Schools, where he leads systemwide fiscal and operational strategy across the nation’s largest public school system.
In this role, he oversees finance, human resources, procurement modernization, and cross-functional operational alignment, ensuring that resources are deployed efficiently, transparently, and in support of student outcomes. He also serves as Interim Chief Savings Officer, a role established under the Mayor’s Executive Order 12 to strengthen fiscal stewardship, advance cost-efficiency strategies, and embed performance accountability across agency operations.
Michael previously served as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer and as Senior Executive Director and Acting Chief of Finance and Human Resources for the Division of School Leadership. In those roles, he led fiscal alignment efforts within the system’s $40 billion budget, managed divisional operations, and oversaw operational supports to 45 Superintendent offices serving schools across the five boroughs.
Throughout his career, Michael has led large-scale organizational restructuring initiatives, strengthened procurement and compliance frameworks, advanced labor relations strategy with UFT, CSA, and DC37, and supported enterprise-wide emergency response operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership is grounded in operational clarity, cross-agency collaboration, and measurable accountability.
Michael began his career with New York City Public Schools in 2005 as a Human Resources Assistant and has since held leadership roles spanning field operations, human capital strategy, finance, and organizational transformation. His career reflects a deep institutional understanding of school-based operations and a commitment to modernizing public systems to better serve students and families.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from the College of New Rochelle.
Christina Foti, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning
Christina Foti is the Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL) at New York City Public Schools. She oversees the Special Education Office, the Office of Multilingual Learners, the Committees on Special Education (CSEs), the Committees on Preschool Special Education (CPSEs), and District 75. Nearly four in ten students in NYCPS are multilingual learners, students with disabilities, or both. This places DIAL’s work at the center of NYCPS’s mission to ensure access to high-quality, inclusive learning environments.
Previously, Foti served as NYCPS’s Chief of Special Education. In partnership with an extraordinary team across schools, districts, and central offices, the Special Education Office advanced initiatives reaching more than 270,000 students with disabilities, strengthened citywide service delivery, expanded specialized programming, and increased access to high-quality community-based placements.
Her career in education began as a middle school teacher, and she later served as a literacy coach, assistant principal, principal, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Executive Director of the Special Education Office. Foti holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, a master’s degree in Special Education from the City University of New York, and a postgraduate degree in Educational Leadership from Hunter College. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Simone C. Hawkins, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Early Childhood Education
As Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Early Childhood Education, Simone C. Hawkins oversees birth to 5 education, including 3-K and Pre-K, and the implementation of NYC Reads in early childhood classrooms.
Simone previously worked under this administration as the Chief Executive of Early Childhood Operations, and is rejoining New York City Public Schools from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where she most recently served as Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness. Simone has also held roles as the Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Child Care in the Division of Environmental Health at DOHMH, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at Covenant House, Deputy Director of Budget and Operations at The Children’s Aid Society, and as a Senior Budget Analyst for the New York City Office of Management and Budget, where she managed over six billion dollars for the education task force.
Kevin Moran, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of School Operations
Kevin Moran is the Deputy Chancellor of the School Operations. Prior to his current role, Kevin served as Chief of School Operations, and prior to that, as the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for student transportation. He has also served as the Executive Director of Operations within the Office of School Support, Deputy Cluster Leader for the Division of Academics Performance and Support, and Deputy Executive Director of Operations at the Brooklyn Integrated Service Center.
Kevin began his career with NYCPS in 1998 as a classroom teacher, and later as the school’s Crisis Intervention Teacher, at Egbert Intermediate School (IS 2). He then became a teacher assigned to District 31’s student services team, followed by Regional Safety Administrator for the Regional Operations Center.
Kevin earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters in Secondary Education from Wagner College. He earned his license in School Administration and Supervision from the College of Saint Rose.
Flavia Puello-Perdomo, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Family Partnership & Community Support
Flavia Puello-Perdomo is a respected education leader with nearly 24 years of experience advancing student success, system coherence, and strong partnerships between schools, families, and communities. Her leadership has been defined by the ability to unify complex portfolios, build sustainable interagency partnerships, and translate vision into measurable outcomes.
Most recently, she served as Chief of Schools for the Office of Community Supports and Wellness at New York City Public Schools, where she led a comprehensive, districtwide strategy to strengthen student well-being and academic readiness across the nation’s largest school system. In this role, she oversaw the implementation of the district’s Mental Health Continuum initiative, expansion of Community Schools and afterschool programming, and the advancement of high-quality physical and health education to ensure schools promote students’ physical, mental, and emotional wellness as core conditions for learning and long-term success. She also led citywide initiatives to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism, while directing cross-agency efforts to deepen supports for vulnerable students, including those in temporary housing and foster care.
Flavia’s career spans the full educational continuum as a teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and central office leader. A proud New York City Public Schools graduate, multilingual learner, and public school parent, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work advancing opportunity and well-being for every student.
Mark Rampersant, Chief of Safety and Prevention Partnerships
Mark Rampersant serves as the Chief of Safety and Prevention Partnerships for New York City Public Schools, where he leads the comprehensive safety infrastructure for the largest public school system in the country.
With more than 25 years of leadership within NYC Public Schools, Chief Rampersant oversees integrated systems that address physical safety, behavioral health, threat assessment, gang prevention and intervention, cyber safety, restorative practices, and school climate. His office establishes clear protocols, drives coordinated incident response, and ensures schools are prepared to respond effectively to complex and evolving safety challenges. His leadership ensures that safety efforts are proactive, data informed and grounded in both accountability and care.
Chief Rampersant works in close partnership with the NYPD School Safety Division and other local, state, and federal agencies, serving as a central point of coordination across public safety and education sectors. Through these partnerships, he strengthens intelligence sharing, resource alignment, and proactive prevention efforts that protect students and staff across all five boroughs. ,
He approaches safety as both a strategic and moral responsibility. By building systems that are structured, responsive, and rooted in student dignity, he advances environments where young people can focus on learning, and adults can lead with confidence. Chief Rampersant is driven by a clear conviction: safety is foundational to opportunity. When schools are secure, structured, and supportive, students are positioned to grow, achieve, and lead.
Liz Vladeck, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel
As Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Liz Vladeck and her team represent and advise NYCPS on all legal matters, including Constitutional law and civil rights; special education; labor and employment; employee discipline; federal, state, and local law and compliance; procurement and commercial transactions; and general litigation. Liz works to ensure the Office of General Counsel provides superlative, ethical legal counsel and representation in support and as part of NYCPS’ efforts to advance learning, collaborate with families as partners, foster student resilience, and create safe and inclusive environments. Prior to joining NYCPS in 2021, Liz served as Senior Labor Policy Advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Policy & Planning and as Deputy Commissioner and founding Director of the Office of Labor Policy and Standards in the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Before working for NYC, Liz represented workers and unions in the private sector for over 15 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and her law degree from Columbia Law School and teaches labor law at New York Law School. Liz and her children are proud products of New York City Public Schools.