Melissa Aviles-Ramos will be next NYC schools chancellor, Mayor Eric Adams says

New York City's next schools chancellor will be Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday in replacing David Banks, who is stepping down from his post as the administration faces multiple federal corruption investigations.

Aviles-Ramos, currently a deputy chancellor in the school system, will take over after Banks leaves at the end of 2024. Her first day is Jan. 1.

The appointment came hours before news broke that Adams had been indicted. For over a year, there have federal corruption investigations of Adams and his circle, including Banks and his brothers.

"No matter what happens in our city, our children still must be educated, and they must be prepared for the future. And Melissa brings that. Just a girl from the block. You know, a Bronx leader, and just a symbol, a symbol, of what good things can come out of not only public school, but comes out of the Bronx," Adams said earlier Wednesday.

The specifics of the charges in the federal indictment against Adams remained sealed Wednesday night, according to the sources, who spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

As deputy chancellor, Aviles-Ramos, 42, oversees family and community engagement and external affairs. She joined the school system in 2007 as an English teacher, then became an assistant principal, principal, deputy superintendent, acting superintendent and education administrator, according to a biography distributed by Adams' press office.

"I want you to know, I want you to see me as a symbol of stability of commitments," she said on Wednesday, adding: "I am here to tell you that my charge is to make sure we carry through on all the bright stars and bold futures."

Banks' departure announcement Tuesday marked the latest exit from the Adams administration, which is under at least four federal investigations that have led to subpoenas, raids, warrants and seizures of the electronic devices belonging to various people in Adams' circle. In the last few weeks, Adams' police commissioner, chief counsel and health commissioner have all announced resignations.

The investigation involving David Banks is reportedly scrutinizing how a Florida company hired one of his brothers to influence him and another brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, to get a panic button app deployed in the public schools.

In a valedictory address on Wednesday, Banks, 62, took aim at media coverage of the investigations.

"Folks can write whatever the hell they wanna write," Banks said before embracing his girlfriend, Sheena Wright, Adams' first deputy mayor. Her electronic devices, along with Banks', were seized in an early morning raid by the FBI earlier this month.

He added: "I know my truth" and "God is not finished with me yet."

Banks has said that he is retiring after four decades as a teacher, assistant principal and school founder, among other posts in the education field. His tenure has been marked by a focus on student careers and revamping how reading is taught.

"After 40 years, I'm tired. And that's the God's honest truth," Banks said.

With nearly 1 million students, the city's public school system has long been the nation's largest.

Management of the K-12 public schools in New York City is centralized, unlike on Long Island, which has 124 independent districts, with an average of roughly 3,400 students each.

With AP

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.