‘Ready to hit the ground running’
New schools chief Porter knows challenge ahead
New York City’s incoming schools chancellor will walk into a system gripped by ongoing crisis.
With high schools still closed, scores of teachers and families still wary about the safety of in-person learning, and kids across the city reeling from the emotional and educational devastation of the pandemic, Meisha Porter will have have to draw on every ounce of experience from her two-decade career, colleagues and friends say.
Porter, who will take over at the helm of the nation’s largest school system March 15 after the surprise resignation of Richard Carranza, says she’s up for the challenge.
“I’m ready to hit the ground running and lead New York City schools to full recovery. It won’t be easy, but clearly, I’ve never done anything easy,” Porter said.
Porter, a former teacher, principal and superintendent in the Bronx, will make history as New York City’s first Black woman chancellor. Those who know her say Porter excels in bringing together diverse and sometimes competing interests — a skill she’ll draw on right away in the fractious school reopening debate.
“She’s a great listener … and really, just legitimately understanding of what people’s motivations are,” said Rob Magliaro, who worked under Porter as a teacher when she was leading the Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice.
“The system is just really big and there’s lots of different interests … she’ll be able to bring everyone together,” Magliaro added.
Magliaro fondly recalled the joyous Thanksgiving dinners Porter organized as principal — a tradition Magliaro has carried over to the school he now leads.
“The first word that comes to my mind
when I think of Meisha is community,” he said.
Porter, the daughter of a teacher, grew up in Queens, attended public schools and graduated from Hunter College before she began her career as a youth organizer in the Bronx.
She rose through the ranks of the Education Department, from principal to superintendent of the Bronx’s District 11, to executive superintendent overseeing the whole borough.
One of the principals who worked under Porter during her tenure as superintendent was recently elected Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Bronx, Westchester), who effusively praised his former boss Friday on Twitter.
“Meisha is a leader and visionary and has a deep love of our children, families and communities,” he wrote.
Porter will inherit charged, ongoing efforts to diversify the city’s schools and classrooms, which are still sharply divided by race, class and academic achievement.
Carranza was unusually outspoken about his belief that admissions screens and specialized programs for gifted students disadvantaged Black and Hispanic families — an approach that won him fervent support among many educators and families, but drew heated opposition from others.
Colleagues of Porter’s say she’s equally firm in her beliefs.
“You’re not usually unclear about what Meisha wants to accomplish … she’s driven towards equity,” said Magliaro.
And like Carranza — who was the subject of several lawsuits alleging he demonized and demoted white educators — Porter has her detractors. Rafaela Espinal, a former Bronx superintendent, alleged in a lawsuit filed this month she lost her position in part because she failed to participate in group “Wakanda Forever” gestures in meetings convened by Porter.
Porter affirmed that she won’t “shy away” from attacking racial segregation in city schools by revamping admissions criteria.
The incoming schools chief, who will draw the same $363,000 annual salary as her predecessor, said her first priority will be reopening in-person high schools.
“I promise we’ll do everything to reopen schools, starting with high schools,” she said. “We’re ready to go.”