Announcement of High-level Resignation
In another twist in New York City’s educational administration, Deputy Chancellor Kara Ahmed has announced that she is stepping down from her position in the city’s Department of Education. Ahmed made her announcement via a Microsoft Teams meeting and an email to her colleagues, news sources report.
Dedicated Contribution to Early Childhood Education
Championing equitable early childhood education since the advent of the current administration, Ahmed has been a central figure. Chancellor Banks paid tribute to her dedication, passion, and tireless work ethic. He acknowledged that Ahmed had enthusiastically taken on the daunting task of stabilizing and strengthening a complex and crucial department for the city.
The Struggle with Early Childhood Education
However, Ahmed’s tenure was not without turbulence. Back in November 2022, she faced a no-confidence vote from the city’s influential teachers union. This was primarily due to issues such as delayed payments to childcare providers and a tricky reallocation of social workers and instructional coordinators. Meanwhile, both Ahmed and Chancellor Banks blame the department’s struggles on the legacy left by the previous administration, known for its controversially funded 3-K program.
Negotiations with the City’s Budget
Fortunately, Mayor Adams and the City Council recently came to a budget agreement. This deal will replace some of those 3-K funds with city money for a year and further invest in childcare for some of the city’s most vulnerable young children. This funding is slated to benefit preschoolers with disabilities as well as infants and toddlers from undocumented families.
Acknowledging Achievements Amid Challenges
Despite the controversy, Ahmed has been instrumental in implementing some much-needed changes. Chancellor Banks particularly highlighted her contribution to removing payment barriers for providers, shifting 7,000 seats to areas with higher demand, and creating over 800 special education seats. Ahmed has also been a vital support in establishing the chancellor’s signature literacy initiative, implementing a uniform reading curriculum across 90% of early childhood programs.
Departure Message from Deputy Chancellor
Ahmed’s heartfelt memo to her colleagues detailed the difficulty of her decision to leave the role she’d held for 16 years. Her roles have ranged from being a principal to a Deputy Chancellor, giving her the privilege to serve the children of New York City. Emphasizing accomplishments achieved together in partnership with families, Ahmed expressed her hope to stabilize, strengthen, and sustain the early childhood education system.
Department of Education’s Internal Shuffling
Coinciding with Ahmed’s departure, there have been various other changes within the Department of Education. Chancellor Banks announced on Monday that his former chief of staff, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, would succeed Ahmed as the next deputy chancellor of family engagement and external affairs. Kenita Lloyd, previously holding that position, will now act as the chancellor’s right-hand.
The Future of Early Childhood Education
Despite the recent eventful time for the Department of Education, the commitment to high-quality early childhood education remains consistent. Our education administrators are hard at work, ensuring the future generation’s success through continuous improvements to the system. While we thank Kara Ahmed for her service, we look forward to welcoming new leadership and positive improvements for the New York City Department of Education.