New York City Schools chancellor has a low-key approach

From The New York Times: In his new role as New York City’s schools chancellor, Dennis Walcott will test whether urban education reform is ready for a different kind of leader. For the past nine years as a deputy mayor whose main responsibility was to oversee the Department of Education, he has left only the faintest of fingerprints during a time of momentous changes to the schools.


EARLIER....from The New York Times: Dennis M. Walcott says he plans to use a softer touch as New York City’s new schools chancellor to ease the bitter rhetorical battles that have caused wide divisions among teachers, parents and bureaucrats. But Walcott also says he does not plan any major shifts in Education Department policy.

ALSO....from The New York Times: Cathleen P. Black, the publishing executive thrust into the improbable role of New York City’s school chancellor, resigned on the 95th day of her tenure after Mayor Michael Bloomberg told her that her troubled appointment could not be salvaged. The mayor announced he would replace Black with Dennis Walcott, a deputy mayor who has deep education experience. He attended the city's public schools and taught kindergarten. It had become increasingly evident that Bloomberg's appointment of Black was dragging down his personal popularity.

JANUARY 2011....from The New York Times: Cathleen Black, officially beginning her job as New York City schools chancellor, took a tour of several schools that was a tightly choreographed showcasing of the school system’s biggest successes and newest programs.