Schools

Klein Stepping Down As Schools Chancellor

Bloomberg appoints Cathie Black, former publisher, to top schools post.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Tuesday that Schools Chancellor Joel Klein is stepping down from his post, effective immediately.

Klein will be replaced by Cathleen Black, a former publisher at USA Today and Hearst Magazines.

In a press conference from the Blue Room at City Hall, Bloomberg thanked Klein for his years of service — a tenure that began with mayoral control of city public schools in 2002 — and wished him well.

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Joel Klein's extraordinary service to the 1.1 million children and young adults who attend our public schools has secured him a place as a landmark, transformational civic leader in our City's long history," Bloomberg said, before admitting that Klein has intended to leave for some time. "I asked Joel to stay until we could identify a successor — someone with the ability and experience to build on his success, and help take our schools to the next level — and I couldn't be happier to say that we have found someone who is superlatively qualified to do that."

Klein's tenure as the head of city public schools has often been contentious. His appearances at local meetings throughout the five boroughs were, for years, synonymous with long lines of parents anxious to point out the city's educational failings.

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both Klein and Bloomberg, however, have strongly defended city public schools.

Klein said he was grateful to the Mayor for the opportunity to serve New York City's public school children.

"I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for giving me the best job of my life and for being there every step of the way in the effort to improve education for our students," Klein said. "Public schools in New York City changed my own life and it has been a rare privilege to serve the kids and families of this city during the past eight years."

At Tuesday's press conference, Black seemed primed to follow in Klein's often-thankless footsteps.

"Our schools are vastly better than they were just eight years ago when the Mayor took office and Chancellor Klein joined his administration," Black said. "Their passion for improving the educational opportunities of our students has lifted the bar higher than anyone could ever have imagined, and my main goal will be to build on the work that has been accomplished during the Bloomberg Administration, and Chancellor Klein's tenure."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Prospect Heights-Crown Heights