Transition Committees are not mentioned in the City Charter, a combination city constitution and bylaws, a slim 150 plus pages. Mayors-elect select experts, friends, former high ranking city officials to serve on committees, Mamdani, quickly, appointed an experienced, very experienced deputy mayor and a close associate as chief of staff.
Mamdani announced he is appointing Dean Fuleihan as his first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani’s longtime chief of staff, will hold the same title when he becomes mayor.
“The work of government begins here, by ensuring that those we choose to lead it do so with a singular goal: delivering for working New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “With Dean Fuleihan as First Deputy Mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as Chief of Staff, I have no doubt we will build a powerful and competent administration that delivers an affordable, livable city for working people.”
Fuleihan was also former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first deputy mayor and has been advising Mamdani since he won the primary.
Mamdani announced Elana Leopold will lead his transition team, joined by former FTC Commissioner Lena Khan, former First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, United Way CEO Grace Bonilla, and former Deputy Mayor Melanie Hartzog.
“The transition team includes former government officials and leaders from the nonprofit and private sectors.”
Mamdani told reporters, “We want to make sure that these New Yorkers who have so often been at the heart of when government has worked and also have seen it when government has failed, they can inform how we’re looking to form our next government,
Seventeen transition teams , over 400 members and four weeks until Mamdani is sworn in.
Committee on Youth and Education
James Davis, PSC-CUNY (President of CUNY union)
Marielys Divanne, Futuro Solutions
Mark Dunetz, New Visions for Public Schools
Kesi Foster, Partners for Dignity & Rights
Amy Freitag, NY Community Trust
Tara Gardner, Daycare Council of NY
Debra Ellen Glickstein, KidsRise
Karin Goldmark, GreenLink Education
Matt Gonzales, New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools (RJPS)
Sharon Greenberger, YMCA Greater NY
Brian Jones, Center for Education & Schools and New York Public Library
John King, State University of New York (Chancellor of SUNY)
Sebastian Leon Martinez, YDSA
Randi Levine, Advocates for Children
Christine Marinoni, Public School Advocate
Felix Matos Rodriguez, City University of New York (Chancellor of CUNY)
Rashad Moore, Crown Heights Baptist Church
Michael Mulgrew, United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
Lori Podvesker, INCLUDEnyc
Hasoni Pratts, National Urban League
Grace Rauh, Citizens Union
Arva Rice, NY Urban League
Raysa Rodriquez, Citizens Committee for Children
Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, Alliance for Quality Education
Edie Sharp
Felicia Singh, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Susan Stamler, United Neighborhood Houses
Hannah Towfeik, Muslim American Society (MAS)
Mary Vaccarro, United Federation of Teachers (UFT Vice President for Education)
Joshua Wallack
Eric Waterman, East Flatbush Village Inc.
Terrence Winston, Coalition for Community Schools Excellence
Two members from the UFT, Mulgrew and Mary Vaccaro, the UFT VP for Education Issues, James Davis, president of the CUNY union, the chancellors of CUNY and SUNY, Mark Dunetz, the head of New Visions for Public Schools, one of the Education Management Organizations (EMO) that manages over 100 public schools, one of six EMOs who are part of the Affinity District cluster of schools (Read Norm Fruchter’s detailed blog on the origin and functioning of the “bottom-up” Affinity network of schools), Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari from Alliance for Quality Education, a vigorous advocate for public education, members of previous administrations and no one from charter schools.
A few days ago Shael Polikoff-Suransky, the President of the Bank Street College of Education and a deputy chancellor and co-architect of the Affinity Network was interviewed on Inside City Hall,, watch here, only eight minutes:
Is Shael setting the agenda for the transition team? (I hope so …)
Shael proffered that the pre-service student teaching requirement does not adequately prepare prospective teachers.
NYSED student teaching requirements include a college-supervised teaching experience, with specific durations and grade level coverage depending on the certification area. Key requirements include completing at least two experiences of 20 days each, or one experience of 40 days, ensuring the combined experience covers both childhood (pre-K to 6) and adolescent (7-12) levels.
About 40% of NYC teachers leave teaching within their first five years, the current student teaching requirement is inadequate. Shael proposed teacher residency programs replacing the current student teaching pathway,
Teacher residency programs are alternative pathways to teaching that combine a full-year classroom apprenticeship with master’s-level coursework for aspiring educators who already hold a bachelor’s degree. These programs partner with high-need schools to provide residents with hands-on experience, mentorship from an experienced teacher, and the opportunity to become a credentialed teacher while addressing teacher shortages. The goal is to prepare residents to become effective teachers who are ready to lead a classroom.
Residency programs have far higher teacher retention rates as well as a much higher academic student impact.
Additionally Shael vigorously advocated for Mamdani’s childcare ideas, the first few years of life impact academics throughout childrens’ lifetimes
Children who receive high-quality child care as babies, toddlers and preschoolers do better in science, technology, engineering and math through high school, and that link is stronger among children from low-income backgrounds, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Shael for Chancellor? Unfortunately his current job is probably more gratifying.
I doubt the transition meetings will be live-streamed and have no idea whether the teams produce reports.
Are the transition teams setting an agenda? or, will the agenda closely follow his campaign, with “affordabilty” at the top of the agenda? How will he scrape up the billions to implement his agenda?
Mamdani will face brickbats from the right and the left, there is no breaking in period, from the moment Zohran is sworn in, he’s in charge. My advice to Zohran the same as new teachers: exercise, good night’s sleep and a healthy diet, the rest of up to the god(esses)s
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 