Celebrating the Brilliance of our Students and Schools
Dear Colleagues,
One of the best things about living in New York City is getting to experience the changing of the seasons. The cool, crisp air and vibrant fall foliage always speak to me of harvest and abundance, of shedding the old to create space for the new. This metaphor applies beautifully to our public schools, which have so much promise for us to nurture and cultivate.
We held two events last month highlighting the brilliance of our students and schools. First, we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with staff members and special guests at our central office. Highlights included performances by the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music Big Band, Hispanic-inspired light snacks prepared by student chefs from Food and Finance High School in Manhattan, and inspiring remarks by Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. I encourage everyone to visit our website for additional information, events, and resources in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
I also recently delivered my State of Our Schools address at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn. In the audience were 1,000 parents, students, teachers, principals, superintendents, elected officials, community partners, and advocates—people who care deeply about the future of public education in New York City.
In my remarks, I made it clear that our mission remains constant: To ensure that each student graduates on a pathway to a rewarding career and long-term economic security, equipped to be a positive force for change. In other words, we must prepare our children for bright starts and bold futures.
A bright start begins with learning to read, write, and think critically about the issues of our time. Through NYC Reads, we are finally shifting to a literacy playbook that works, grounded in the science of reading—a research-backed approach that prioritizes the foundational skills of strong readers. We will teach our kids phonics. We will teach them to decode complex letter combinations, to sound out words. We will support their fluency and comprehension. This work has already begun in our classrooms, starting with our youngest learners.
At the same time, we are preparing and empowering our students to build bold futures. Our Pathways work will ensure that by 2030, every student will leave us with a concrete plan for a rewarding life path. This plan will be bolstered by access to paid work experience, early college credit, career credentials, financial and digital literacy, and significant mentorship and guidance. We are infusing our high schools with career-connected learning, including our FutureReady and Modern Youth Apprenticeship initiatives, which lead our students to high-tech, high-demand careers such as cybersecurity, software development, diagnostic medicine, and business management.
As we enter the new school year and celebrate the brilliance and potential of our students, I’m honored to have you as partners in this work. Thank you for all you do to nurture the best in our children.
Soaring high,
David C. Banks
Chancellor
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