By Cherranda Smith
New York native
Meisha Ross Porter was named the next chancellor of NYC Public Schools, the nation’s largest public school district. She will be the first Black woman to serve in this role for the city.
The news came Friday (February 26) as the previous chancellor,
Richard Carranza announced his resignation.
“I promise we’ll do everything to reopen schools, starting with high schools, we’re ready to go,” Porter said during a news conference. Porter’s appointment comes just 10 months before mayor
Bill de Blasio leaves office. A new mayor may select another chancellor, but Porter’s work will require the unprecedented task of getting students back to classrooms and expanding learning options during the coronavirus pandemic. In NYC, elementary and middle schools reopened, but high schools have remained closed since November.