As the academic calendar commences across the five boroughs, senior leaders from New York City Public Schools gathered to address pressing questions and outline strategic priorities during the annual Back to School Town Hall hosted by WABC’s Eyewitness News. The broadcast provided a public platform for families to connect directly with the administration guiding the nation's largest municipal school district.
The forum was moderated by Eyewitness News This Morning anchors Shirleen Allicot and Pedro Rivera, who facilitated discussions on instruction, safety, special services, and early childhood policy. Throughout the broadcast, department leaders responded to parent inquiries regarding classroom standards, student support structures, and the broader vision for the ongoing school term.
At the center of the dialogue was Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels, who took the helm of the school system in 2026. Bringing over two decades of professional experience as an educator, Samuels approaches district leadership with a perspective informed both by his long career in city classrooms and by his personal status as a public school parent.
Samuels emphasized his administration's commitment to core instructional practices, raising academic achievement, and creating inclusive school communities. His educational agenda focuses on maintaining academically rigorous environments that are fully integrated, safe, and supportive of every learner entering the school building.
Central to the chancellor's leadership approach is the belief that public institutions must embrace the unique cultural richness of New York City. Samuels noted that instructional programming should be deeply rooted in cultural respect and understanding, ensuring that students from every background feel valued, challenged, and prepared for future success in higher education, careers, and community life.
Joining the chancellor was First Deputy Chancellor Danielle Giunta, who possesses more than twenty years of administrative, instructional, and operational expertise across the district. Giunta plays a central role in guiding broad systemic improvements and leadership development initiatives across all five boroughs.
In her executive role, Giunta oversees critical branches of the central administration, including District Planning, Enrollment, and New School Development and Design. She is also tasked with directing Policy and Evaluation, Academics and Instruction, and Student Pathways, while coordinating closely with the city’s 44 community and high school superintendents.
Giunta's extensive portfolio ensures that central office resources and strategic guidance directly bolster school-level administrators. Her division works to align curriculum standards with operational support so that superintendents and school principals can foster equitable learning pathways for students across every grade band.
The town hall also highlighted specialized student support, led by Christina Foti, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning. Foti’s division serves as a critical pillar of district operations, particularly given that nearly 40 percent of all students in the public school system are classified as multilingual learners, students with disabilities, or both.
Under Foti's leadership, the division manages comprehensive services designed to guarantee accessible and high-quality educational settings. Her oversight includes the central Special Education Office, the Office of Multilingual Learners, and District 75, which provides specialized instructional support to students facing significant challenges.
Additionally, Foti's office directs the administrative work of the Committees on Special Education and the Committees on Preschool Special Education. By managing evaluations and service placements, the division aims to establish inclusive learning environments tailored to the developmental and language needs of diverse student populations.
Campus safety and student well-being were addressed by Mark Rampersant, Chief of Safety and Prevention Partnerships. With more than 25 years of institutional experience within the school system, Rampersant oversees the comprehensive security and prevention network protecting school communities across the city.
Rampersant detailed the multi-tiered systems managed by his office, which encompass physical security protocols, behavioral health initiatives, and threat assessment procedures. His division also spearheads cyber safety measures, anti-gang prevention and intervention strategies, restorative justice practices, and positive school climate programs.
According to district leadership, Rampersant's safety framework is structured around proactive, data-informed intervention that balances strict operational accountability with supportive care. His division establishes uniform safety protocols and drives coordinated incident response mechanisms to address evolving challenges in and around school facilities.
Early childhood education was represented by Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care. Liss brings more than a decade of experience designing and executing large-scale early care systems, with an emphasis on equitable access and cross-agency cooperation to strengthen foundational education throughout New York City.
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