Meisha Porter is the first Black woman chancellor of NYC schools – here are the challenges she will face

By Stanley S. Litow via https://theconversation.com/

Meisha Porter on March 15 became the first Black woman selected as chancellor of the New York City public school system. Here, Stanley S. Litow, former deputy chancellor of the city’s school system, explains the significance of this development. He also addresses the challenges that Porter faces for what will likely be a limited tenure at the helm of the nation’s largest public school system as government leaders seek to fully reopen the nation’s schools.

1. Why are her race and gender significant?

This is of real significance not only in New York City but throughout the nation. According to the American Association of School Administrators, only about 27% of superintendents are women, with only 8.6% of all superintendents being people of color. Yet, Hispanic students make up 27.6% of all public school students, and Black students represent 15%, federal data show.

In the late 1980s I led the search committee that selected New York City’s first…

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