50 Essential Public Education Leaders in New York

If you lead a public school or district in New York, the people you follow shape how you think, plan, and respond to the challenges heading your way. New York State oversees more than 700 school districts and 3.2 million students. New York City Public Schools alone serves approximately 900,000 students across more than 1,600 schools with a budget exceeding $42 billion. The scale is staggering, and the leadership landscape that governs it is unlike anything else in American public education.

The trouble is that New York's public education leadership is unusually fragmented. Power and influence are split across the NYC Chancellor's office, the New York State Education Department in Albany, the Board of Regents, powerful unions like the UFT and NYSUT, advocacy organisations, charter networks, and dozens of superintendents running districts from the Bronx to the North Country. Keeping track of who matters, who is driving real change, and who can help you lead better requires a curated guide that cuts through the noise.

A 2024 RAND Corporation study found that 73% of principals reported working more than 50 hours per week, leaving precious little time for the kind of professional learning and network building that separates reactive leaders from strategic ones. New York's per pupil spending ranks first in the nation at roughly $35,000 per student, which means the stakes attached to every leadership decision are enormous. Getting it right matters for students, for taxpayers, and for the communities that depend on public schools as anchors of civic life.

That is exactly why this guide exists. Below you will find 50 public education leaders who are actively shaping K-12 public education in New York State and New York City right now. These are not generic influencers or higher education academics. Every person on this list is either leading a school system, running a school building, shaping policy that affects your students, advocating for the resources your schools need, conducting research that informs practice, or leading one of the charter networks that has become a permanent feature of New York's education landscape.

For a national perspective on US public education thought leaders, check out my blog post '50 Essential US Public Education Leaders to Follow'.

Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold globally, works with schools around the world to build high performing leadership teams through keynotes, workshops, and facilitation. To discuss how Jonno might support your school leadership team, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Why New York Public Education Leadership Matters Right Now

New York's public education system is navigating several simultaneous transformations that make following the right leaders more important than ever. In January 2026, newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Kamar Samuels as NYC Schools Chancellor, creating an immediate leadership transition in the nation's largest school district. At the state level, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young Jr. continue to drive the historic phase out of Regents exams as strict graduation requirements, a shift that will reshape how every district in the state measures student success.

Meanwhile, the NYC Reads literacy initiative has expanded from 15 community districts to a systemwide mandate reaching more than 490,000 students, while districts statewide are grappling with the expiration of federal ESSER pandemic relief funds. The class size mandate requires NYC to cap class sizes at 20 to 25 students by 2028, with the city currently only around 64% compliant. Chronic absenteeism remains stubbornly high, and NYSED has replaced its chronic absenteeism accountability indicator with a new attendance measure for 2025-26.

In this environment, isolation is expensive. Leaders who stay connected to the right network of practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and advocates are better positioned to respond with evidence based strategies rather than reactive guesswork. The 50 leaders profiled below represent the essential voices you need in your professional orbit if you lead a public school in New York.

For more on finding the right professional development for your school leadership team, check out my blog post '50 Best PD Speakers for Schools in the USA (2026)'.

NYC Public Schools System Leaders

These leaders sit at the centre of the nation's largest public school system. Their decisions on curriculum, staffing, budgets, and school design ripple through more than 1,600 schools and affect nearly a million students. Following them keeps you connected to the operational and strategic realities of urban public education at its most complex scale.

1. Kamar H. Samuels

Kamar Samuels serves as Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, appointed in January 2026 by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. A veteran educator who rose through the NYC system as a Teaching Fellow, elementary teacher, principal, superintendent, and deputy superintendent, Samuels now oversees the largest school district in the United States. His priorities include expanding NYC Reads into middle schools, advancing school integration, and meeting the class size mandate compliance benchmarks heading into 2028.

Samuels holds degrees from Baruch College and Lehman College and New York State certifications in school and district leadership. His appointment signals a return to promoting experienced internal leaders rather than bringing in outsiders, a shift that matters for anyone tracking how NYC develops its leadership pipeline.

2. Danielle Giunta

Danielle Giunta serves as First Deputy Chancellor of NYC Public Schools, overseeing District Planning, Enrollment, Student Pathways, Academics and Instruction, and the city's 44 community and high school superintendents. Previously she served as Community Superintendent of District 26, where she led efforts that resulted in improved student outcomes and national recognition for academic excellence. Giunta is a lifelong New Yorker and NYCPS graduate whose leadership is collaborative, data informed, and grounded in community voice.

3. Dr. Alan Y. Cheng

Dr. Alan Cheng serves as Senior Supervising Superintendent of High Schools and District 79 at NYC Public Schools. With nearly two decades in the system as a teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and superintendent, Cheng has centred his leadership on strengthening instructional quality and expanding postsecondary pathways. Under his leadership, schools expanded support for multilingual learners and broadened access to early college credit and paid work-based learning. He holds an Ed.D. in Urban Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.

4. Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla

Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla serves in senior leadership at NYC Public Schools, having previously served as Chief of School Support, Superintendent of District 10, and in multiple other senior roles across a 28-year career. Born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, her journey from NYCPS student to district leader represents a full circle story rooted in service and equity. Her LinkedIn content on instructional leadership and teacher development consistently sparks conversation among New York educators.

5. Roberto Padilla

Roberto Padilla brings over two decades of teaching and leadership experience to his current superintendent role, having begun in middle schools in Manhattan and the Bronx. He was named the 2021 New York State Superintendent of the Year, the 2021 National TRIO Achiever, and the 2019 Education Weekly Leader to Learn From. Padilla's perspective on equity, community engagement, and the moral dimensions of school leadership makes him one of the most respected superintendent voices in the state.

6. Kelly McGuire

Kelly McGuire serves as Superintendent of NYC Community School District 2, one of the highest performing and most politically complex districts in Manhattan. With nearly two decades as an NYC educator, including time as assistant principal, principal, and deputy superintendent, McGuire navigates integration debates, curriculum mandates, and community expectations in one of the city's most visible roles. His LinkedIn activity reflects practical insights on district management and leadership development.

7. Sean Davenport

Sean Davenport serves as Superintendent of NYC District 5 in Harlem. He began his career as a high school English teacher in the Bronx and moved into leadership roles including founding principal of a District 5 elementary school. Davenport has also worked in leadership development for NYC Schools, helping grow future leaders. His community partnership work and equity focus in one of the city's most historically significant neighbourhoods make him a superintendent worth watching.

8. Renzo Martinez

Renzo Martinez serves as Superintendent of NYC District 6 in Washington Heights, bringing 28 years of experience to NYC Public Schools. An immigrant who graduated from Evander Childs High School, Martinez became principal of PS/IS 366 Washington Heights Academy in 2011 and served as a leadership coach before becoming superintendent. His story of rising through the system resonates with the multilingual, immigrant communities that characterise many New York districts.

9. Pierre Orbe

Pierre Orbe is Principal of DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and the 2025 New York State High School Principal of the Year. His school turnaround work has become one of the most cited leadership stories in New York, demonstrating what is possible when a principal combines instructional focus with genuine community investment. Orbe is active on LinkedIn, sharing leadership reflections that resonate with practitioners navigating similar challenges in urban schools.

10. Liz Phillips

Liz Phillips is the long serving principal of PS 321 in Brooklyn, one of the most respected elementary schools in New York City. Her advocacy work and school leadership have made her a prominent voice in debates around balanced literacy, phonics based instruction, and the implementation of NYC Reads. Phillips represents the building level perspective that too often gets drowned out in system level conversations, and her influence on parent communities is significant.

New York State Education Officials and Regents

These leaders set the policy direction that every school district in New York must follow. From graduation requirements to assessment design to curriculum standards, the decisions made in Albany shape what happens in classrooms from Montauk to Massena. Following them is essential for understanding where the state is heading.

11. Dr. Betty A. Rosa

Dr. Betty Rosa serves as Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, overseeing more than 700 districts and 3.2 million students. She is the chief architect of state education policy, currently driving the historic transition away from Regents exams as strict graduation requirements and advancing the Portrait of a Graduate framework. Rosa's leadership style emphasises equity, culturally responsive education, and community voice in policymaking.

12. Lester W. Young Jr.

Lester W. Young Jr. serves as Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, leading the body that sets statewide education policy direction. Under his leadership, the Regents have adopted a statewide Portrait of a Graduate and begun implementing the NY Inspires initiative that redefines what graduation readiness looks like. Young's influence extends across every aspect of K-12 policy in the state, from assessment and accountability to curriculum standards and charter school oversight.

13. Judith Chin

Judith Chin serves as Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents, where she helps shape committee work and build consensus around major policy changes including the graduation measures transition. Vice chancellors often wield significant behind the scenes influence on how policy proposals are refined before reaching full board votes, making Chin an important figure for anyone tracking the direction of New York education policy.

14. Jeffrey A. Matteson

Jeffrey Matteson serves as Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy at NYSED, overseeing P-12 and higher education policy implementation under Commissioner Rosa. His role sits at the operational centre of how state policy translates into district level action, making him one of the most important officials for school leaders to understand even though his name rarely appears in headlines.

15. Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins

Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins serves as Deputy Commissioner for P-12 Instructional Support at NYSED. Instructional support is a central lever in statewide implementation of curriculum standards, professional development frameworks, and the culturally responsive sustaining education initiative. Her office directly shapes what teachers and school leaders across the state are expected to know and do.

16. Zachary Warner

Zachary Warner serves as Assistant Commissioner for State Assessment at NYSED. Assessment policy is central during the Regents transition era, and Warner's office is responsible for managing the practical mechanics of how New York measures student learning. For any school leader trying to understand what testing will look like in the next three to five years, Warner's work is directly relevant.

17. Dr. Santosha Oliver

Dr. Santosha Oliver serves as Assistant Commissioner for Standards and Instruction at NYSED. Curriculum and standards implementation are increasingly contested and visible across New York, and Oliver's office sits at the intersection of what the state expects and what districts deliver. Her role is particularly important as schools navigate the integration of culturally responsive sustaining education into existing curriculum frameworks.

18. Lisa Long

Lisa Long serves as Executive Director of the NYSED Charter School Office, which oversees charter school authorisation, accountability, and renewal across the state. Charter oversight remains one of the most politically charged policy arenas in New York, and Long's office manages the regulatory framework that governs how charter schools operate alongside traditional public schools.

19. Roger Tilles

Roger Tilles serves as a Regent at Large on the New York State Board of Regents. He has been one of the most visible and vocal Regents members on standards, instruction, and state policy over an extended tenure. His willingness to engage publicly on controversial topics makes him a useful bellwether for understanding where Regents opinion is heading on issues that affect every district in the state.

20. Shino Tanikawa

Shino Tanikawa represents the 1st Judicial District on the Board of Regents, making her one of the most visible NYC-based members. Her perspective as a New York City parent and community advocate brings a grassroots lens to statewide policy discussions that often feel disconnected from the daily realities of urban schools. Tanikawa's positions on integration, admissions, and student opportunity have drawn significant attention in NYC education circles.

Superintendents With Statewide Recognition

These superintendents have earned recognition through state and national awards, leadership in professional associations, or sustained impact that extends well beyond their own district boundaries. They represent the front lines of district leadership across New York's diverse geography.

21. Jennifer L. Gaffney

Jennifer Gaffney serves as Superintendent of Sackets Harbor Central School District and was named the 2026 New York State Superintendent of the Year by NYSCOSS. Her relational, equity-driven leadership in a smaller upstate district demonstrates that impactful school leadership is not limited to large urban systems. Gaffney is active on LinkedIn, sharing reflections on leadership that resonate with rural and small district leaders who rarely see their contexts represented in national conversations.

22. Dr. Raymond Sanchez

Dr. Raymond Sanchez serves as Superintendent of Tarrytown Union Free School District and was the 2025 New York State Superintendent of the Year. He is a powerful advocate for dual language programs, equity, and immigrant student support. His district's approach to multilingual learners has earned regional and national attention, making him an essential follow for any New York leader navigating the complexities of serving linguistically diverse communities.

23. Dr. Donna J. DeSiato

Dr. Donna DeSiato serves as Superintendent of East Syracuse Minoa Central School District and was the 2022 New York State Superintendent of the Year. She is a pioneer in STEM and STEAM education ecosystems and workforce development partnerships in Central New York. DeSiato has also served as NYSCOSS president, combining district leadership with statewide superintendent convening power that amplifies her influence across the state.

24. Dr. Kevin McGowan

Dr. Kevin McGowan serves as Superintendent of Brighton Central School District near Rochester and was named the 2023 National Superintendent of the Year by AASA. His district is routinely cited as a blueprint for post pandemic academic recovery, and his national recognition gives him a platform that extends well beyond New York. McGowan's approach to data informed leadership and community engagement has earned widespread respect.

25. Dr. Luvelle Brown

Dr. Luvelle Brown leads Ithaca City School District in New York and received the Effie A. Jones Humanitarian Award for his work cultivating a district wide culture of love, inclusion, and equity. Co-author of A Call to Courage, Brown is a nationally recognised speaker and a sought after voice on standing up to intolerance and building resilience in school communities. His LinkedIn posts reflect deep conviction about the moral dimensions of school leadership.

26. Lars Clemensen

Lars Clemensen serves as a superintendent on Long Island and has held leadership roles within NYSCOSS, representing superintendent interests in Albany. His focus on Foundation Aid reform and state budget advocacy makes him an important voice for understanding the fiscal realities that shape what districts can and cannot do. Clemensen appears regularly in superintendent leadership and evaluation conversations across the state.

27. Dr. Joseph Famularo

Dr. Joseph Famularo serves as Superintendent of Bellmore School District on Long Island and was the 2024 New York State Superintendent of the Year. NYSCOSS recognition consistently marks superintendents with genuine statewide influence, and Famularo's award reflects his impact on curriculum leadership, community engagement, and district culture in a suburban context that represents a large share of New York's student population.

28. Joshua Dann

Joshua Dann is Principal of Saranac Lake High School and was named the 2026 New York State High School Principal of the Year by SAANYS. His recognition brings visibility to upstate school leadership at a time when rural and small town schools face unique challenges around enrollment, staffing, and community expectations. Dann represents the practitioners that school leaders across the state look to for practical, on the ground insights.

29. Matthew Wentworth

Matthew Wentworth is Principal of Goshen Intermediate School and was named the 2025 New York State Elementary Principal of the Year. Elementary leadership receives far less public attention than district or high school leadership, making Wentworth's recognition especially valuable for the principals and assistant principals navigating the early literacy mandates, social emotional learning, and parent engagement challenges that define K-5 education in New York right now.

30. Rebecca Belkota

Rebecca Belkota is Principal of Perry Jr./Sr. High School and was named the 2025 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year. Middle school leadership sits at a critical transition point for students and is often the hardest level to lead well. Belkota's recognition signals practitioner excellence in a space where school leaders are implementing NYC Solves expansions, navigating adolescent mental health challenges, and preparing students for the new graduation pathways.

Union, Association, and Governance Leaders

No guide to New York public education leadership is complete without the union and association leaders whose advocacy, political strategy, and collective bargaining shape working conditions, budgets, and policy direction. Understanding their positions is essential for navigating New York's education landscape.

31. Michael Mulgrew

Michael Mulgrew serves as President of the United Federation of Teachers, the union representing NYC's educators. No single person shapes NYC teacher politics more directly. Mulgrew's positions on the class size mandate, curriculum rollouts, school safety, and mayoral control have direct, immediate consequences for every principal and superintendent in the city. Understanding where the UFT stands is not optional for NYC school leaders.

32. Melinda Person

Melinda Person serves as President of New York State United Teachers, representing nearly 700,000 professionals statewide. NYSUT drives Albany lobbying on testing reduction, Tier 6 pension reform, school funding, and teacher pipeline issues. Person's advocacy directly influences the state budget that determines how much money reaches every school district in New York. Her public statements often signal where labour priorities are heading in the next legislative session.

33. Henry D. Rubio

Henry Rubio serves as President of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, the union representing NYC principals and administrators. CSA ensures school leaders are not crushed by rolling top down mandates, and Rubio's advocacy on workload, autonomy, and support for principals is directly relevant to anyone who runs a school building in New York City. The principal perspective he represents is essential in policy discussions that too often centre only on teachers or system leaders.

34. Charles S. Dedrick

Charles Dedrick serves as Executive Director of NYSCOSS, the New York State Council of School Superintendents. NYSCOSS is the chief voice for superintendents in state legislative battles, particularly around the state budget and Foundation Aid. Dedrick's LinkedIn content and public statements provide a superintendent centred lens on Albany politics that is invaluable for district leaders tracking funding, mandates, and statewide policy shifts.

35. Jennifer Carlson

Jennifer Carlson serves as Executive Director of SAANYS, the School Administrators Association of New York State. SAANYS provides legal, professional, and advocacy support to school administrators statewide, making it one of the most important professional homes for building level leaders outside NYC. Carlson's leadership of the organisation positions her as a key connector in the statewide network of principals and assistant principals.

36. Robert Schneider

Robert Schneider serves as Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association. School board leadership often determines how state and city policy lands at the local level, and NYSSBA provides the governance framework, training, and advocacy that boards depend on. Schneider's role makes him an important figure for anyone who works with or reports to a school board in New York.

Advocacy, Policy, and Research Leaders

These leaders shape the evidence base, the advocacy agenda, and the policy environment that every school in New York operates within. They are the voices that challenge the system, hold it accountable, and generate the research that informs practice.

37. Arlen Benjamin-Gomez

Arlen Benjamin-Gomez serves as Executive Director of EdTrust-New York, one of the sharpest equity and accountability voices in the state. EdTrust-NY produces rigorous research on early literacy, FAFSA completion, chronic absenteeism, and racial equity gaps that drives informed advocacy and action. Benjamin-Gomez is active on LinkedIn, posting regularly on New York education equity issues, making her one of the most useful follows for data informed school leaders.

38. Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari serves as Co-Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education. She is one of the best known grassroots education organisers in New York, fighting for equitable Foundation Aid distribution and resources for Black and Brown students. With over two decades of advocacy experience, Ansari's voice carries weight in Albany budget battles that directly determine school funding across the state.

39. Nyah Berg

Nyah Berg serves as Executive Director of New York Appleseed, leading the charge on school integration and dismantling segregation in NYC's highly stratified public school system. Her organisation's work on admissions fairness, parent engagement, and integration policy makes her an essential voice for anyone grappling with the persistent segregation patterns that shape student outcomes in New York City.

40. Marielys Divanne

Marielys Divanne serves as Executive Director of Educators for Excellence New York. E4E mobilises teachers to influence policy, and Divanne's organisation has been especially active in tracking the on the ground rollout of NYC Reads and NYC Solves. Her teacher centred perspective on curriculum mandates provides a counterweight to the system level voices that dominate most policy discussions, making her a valuable follow for leaders who want to understand how reforms land in classrooms.

41. Leonie Haimson

Leonie Haimson is Executive Director of Class Size Matters, the advocacy organisation that successfully lobbied for the historic NYC class size reduction legislation. Her data driven, relentless approach to school budgets, class size, and student privacy has made her one of the most cited education advocates in New York. Haimson's posts are heavy on data and analysis, making her particularly useful for leaders who want the numbers behind the headlines.

42. David Bloomfield

David Bloomfield is Professor at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, serving as the definitive media voice and academic analyst on NYC education law, mayoral control, and governance. When reporters need an expert quote on how school governance works in New York City, Bloomfield is often the first call. His sharp, unvarnished analysis makes him essential reading for anyone trying to understand the legal and political architecture of NYC education.

43. Dr. Katie Pace Miles

Dr. Katie Pace Miles is an Associate Professor at Brooklyn College and a leading Science of Reading researcher who developed the pivotal 10-hour NYC Reads micro credential for teachers. Her work sits at the intersection of research and practice in literacy instruction, making her one of the most directly influential academics in the current NYC education landscape. For any school leader implementing phonics based reading instruction, Miles is essential.

44. Aaron Pallas

Aaron Pallas is the Arthur I. Gates Professor of Sociology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a premier researcher analysing the real world impact of NYC and NYS education policies, testing regimes, and accountability systems. His nonpartisan, evidence based approach makes his analysis especially valuable for school leaders who need to separate signal from noise in a politically charged education environment.

45. David Kirkland

David Kirkland serves as CEO of NYU Metro Center, whose work has shaped statewide conversations on culturally responsive sustaining education. The CR-S framework developed through NYU Metro Center's work has been integrated into NYSED policies, guiding educators across the state in embracing culturally responsive teaching practices, curriculum development, and school leadership strategies. Kirkland's influence on how New York defines educational equity is substantial and ongoing.

46. Shael Polakow-Suransky

Shael Polakow-Suransky serves as President of Bank Street College of Education, which remains deeply embedded in NYC's leadership and teacher development ecosystem. Bank Street's partnerships with NYCPS on principal preparation programs, including the Leadership Education Apprentice Program, make it one of the most important institutions shaping who leads New York City's schools. Polakow-Suransky previously served in senior roles at the NYC Department of Education, giving him a practitioner's understanding of the system.

Charter Sector Leaders Shaping the New York Conversation

Whether you lead a traditional public school, a charter school, or a district that contains both, the charter sector is a permanent and influential feature of New York's education landscape. These leaders shape debates on accountability, school choice, curriculum, and resource allocation that affect every public school in the state.

47. Eva Moskowitz

Eva Moskowitz is Founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, the largest and most academically dominant charter network in New York State with 47 schools across four boroughs. Her network's test scores consistently outperform district averages, and her political influence on school choice policy in Albany and City Hall is significant. Moskowitz is one of the most polarising figures in New York education, but ignoring her influence would leave a significant gap in any school leader's understanding of the landscape.

48. Julie Jackson

Julie Jackson serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer of Uncommon Schools, one of the most important charter operators with deep New York roots across Brooklyn and beyond. Uncommon's approach to rigorous instruction and school culture has influenced both charter and district practice. Jackson is active on LinkedIn with multiple recent posts on school leadership, instructional excellence, and organisational development, making her one of the most useful charter sector follows in the state.

49. Ian Rowe

Ian Rowe is Founder of Vertex Partnership Academies, an influential voice pushing for character education, student agency, and International Baccalaureate curriculum in the Bronx charter space. His perspective on how schools can build agency and purpose in young people extends beyond the charter sector and influences broader conversations about what public education should aim to develop in students. Rowe is also a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, giving him a platform that reaches national policy discussions.

50. Alicia Johnson

Alicia Johnson serves as Chief Executive Officer of KIPP NYC, one of the city's most established and influential charter networks. KIPP NYC operates 18 schools in the Bronx and manages the educational experiences of thousands of students. Johnson's leadership of one of the highest profile charter networks in the country positions her at the centre of ongoing conversations about school choice, accountability, and educational equity in New York City.

Common Mistakes New York School Leaders Make When Building Their Network

Following only NYC voices when you lead a district upstate, on Long Island, or in the Hudson Valley is one of the most common errors. New York State education policy is set in Albany, not in Tweed Courthouse, and the leaders who shape state budgets, graduation requirements, and assessment frameworks deserve as much attention as the NYC Chancellor. Make sure your network includes NYSED officials, Regents members, and NYSCOSS voices alongside NYC system leaders.

Ignoring union and association leaders is another significant gap. Whether you agree with their positions or not, leaders like Michael Mulgrew, Melinda Person, and Henry Rubio shape the contractual, political, and operational environment you work within. Understanding their priorities helps you anticipate what is coming rather than being caught off guard by policy shifts, contractual changes, or budget battles that directly affect your school.

Relying exclusively on headlines instead of following researchers is a third common mistake. Journalists report on education; researchers like Aaron Pallas, Katie Pace Miles, and the Research Alliance for NYC Schools at NYU Steinhardt analyse it. The difference matters when you need to make evidence based decisions about curriculum adoption, staffing models, or student support systems.

Overlooking advocacy voices because they seem too political is a fourth error. Organisations like EdTrust-New York, Alliance for Quality Education, New York Appleseed, and Educators for Excellence produce some of the most useful data and analysis available on New York's public schools. Their advocacy may have a point of view, but the evidence they surface is often the best available window into how policy is actually landing in schools and communities.

Finally, failing to follow leaders outside your own sector limits your perspective. If you lead a traditional public school, understanding what charter leaders are doing helps you anticipate competitive dynamics and learn from different instructional models. If you lead a charter school, understanding district operations helps you navigate co-location, regulatory, and community dynamics more effectively.

Essential New York Education Organisations Every School Leader Should Know

The New York State Education Department and Board of Regents serve as the core statewide policy and regulatory centre. NYSCOSS, the New York State Council of School Superintendents, is the most important statewide superintendent network and policy voice in Albany. SAANYS, the School Administrators Association of New York State, provides legal, professional, and advocacy support to building level leaders statewide.

NYSSBA, the New York State School Boards Association, serves as the key statewide school board governance body. UFT, the United Federation of Teachers, and NYSUT, New York State United Teachers, are the central union voices in NYC and statewide education respectively. CSA, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, represents NYC's principals and supervisors.

On the advocacy and research side, EdTrust-New York focuses on equity and accountability, the Alliance for Quality Education drives school funding advocacy, New York Appleseed leads on school integration, and Educators for Excellence mobilises teachers to influence policy. The Research Alliance for NYC Schools at NYU Steinhardt produces some of the most credible and practical research available on NYC public schools. Bank Street College and NYU Metro Center remain deeply embedded in teacher and leader development across the city and state.

For more on finding the right leadership development support for your school team, check out my blog post '31 Best Leadership Development Experts for Schools (2026)'.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Board of Regents phasing out Regents exams? The Board of Regents formally began moving away from Regents exams as strict graduation requirements, shifting toward performance based assessments and broader graduation pathways based on the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendations. New York plans to implement the new graduation measures beginning in the 2027-28 school year while maintaining required assessments for federal accountability purposes.

What is NYC Reads and how far has it expanded? NYC Reads is the city's phonics based literacy initiative that began in 15 community districts in 2023-24 and expanded to all districts the following year. By 2025-26 the city had also expanded NYC Reads and NYC Solves into many middle schools, reaching more than 490,000 students. A mandate was also issued requiring all public schools to choose from a list of city approved reading intervention programs for struggling readers.

Where does the NYC class size mandate currently stand? NYC is legally required to cap class sizes at 20 to 25 students depending on grade level by 2028. Current compliance is around 64% heading toward the 2026-27 benchmark of 80%, which makes class size one of the defining operational and financial challenges for NYC school leaders.

How is Foundation Aid reform affecting districts statewide? The Board of Regents' 2026-27 priorities called for a $996.8 million Foundation Aid increase. Districts statewide are also feeling the effects of expired federal ESSER pandemic relief funds, creating a fiscal environment where state funding formulas matter more than ever for budget planning and program sustainability.

Which professional network is best for a new school leader in New York? For NYC principals and assistant principals, CSA provides union representation and professional support. For building level leaders outside NYC, SAANYS offers legal, advocacy, and mentoring support. For superintendents statewide, NYSCOSS is the primary network. All three provide professional development, networking, and policy translation that new leaders need.

Can I hire someone to facilitate leadership development for my school team? Jonno White, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, delivers keynotes, workshops, and facilitation sessions for school leadership teams around the world. Many organisations find that international travel is far more affordable than expected. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to start a conversation.

Final Thoughts

New York's public education leadership is unusually fragmented, and that fragmentation creates both challenge and opportunity. The challenge is that no single leader, organisation, or policy body controls the full picture. The opportunity is that following the right combination of system leaders, state officials, union voices, advocacy organisations, and researchers gives you a panoramic view of where New York education is heading that most of your peers will never achieve.

The 50 leaders profiled in this guide represent the best starting point for building that view. They span NYC system leadership, Albany policymakers, award winning superintendents and principals, union and association leaders who shape working conditions, advocacy voices who hold the system accountable, researchers who separate evidence from opinion, and charter sector leaders whose ideas influence district schools too.

Leading a public school in New York has never been more complex or more important. Statewide per pupil spending exceeds $35,000, the system educates more than 3.2 million students, and every decision carries consequences that reverberate through communities from Manhattan to the Adirondacks. Following the right voices will not solve your budget crisis or reduce your chronic absenteeism rate overnight, but it will ensure you are never leading in isolation.

Jonno White, trusted facilitator across Australia, UK, USA, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, India, and Europe, delivers Working Genius sessions, DISC workshops, and StrengthsFinder facilitation to help school leadership teams understand each other and collaborate more effectively. Whether virtual or face to face, reach out to jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss how Jonno might support your school.

For more on building school culture and staff wellbeing, check out my blog post '35 Best School Culture and Wellbeing Consultants (2026)'.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits across the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Finland, Namibia, and more. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 230+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries. Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders and achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Next Read: 50 Essential US Public Education Leaders to Follow

If you lead a public school or district in the United States, the people you follow on LinkedIn shape the way you think, plan, and respond to challenges. The right voices in your feed can spark a strategy shift, introduce a framework you had never considered, or simply remind you that someone else is wrestling with the same problems you are facing today. The trouble is that LinkedIn's education space is enormous. Sorting through thousands of profiles to find the practitioners, authors, and policy voices who genuinely understand US public K-12 education takes time most school leaders do not have.

A 2024 RAND Corporation study found that 73% of principals reported working more than 50 hours per week, leaving precious little room for the kind of professional learning that scrolling a curated feed can provide. That is exactly why this guide exists.

Keep reading: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/50-essential-us-public-education-leaders-to-follow