NEW YORK -- Standing in front of 20 fidgety kids in a middle school gymnasium Monday, New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio (D) announced what he called "literally one of the most important decisions" he'd make as mayor: the appointment of longtime educator and one-time Bloomberg education deputy Carmen Fariña as chancellor of the nation's largest public school system.
At a press conference at Brooklyn's William Alexander Middle School, a school his two children attended, de Blasio called Fariña "a brilliant innovator and someone who knew how to bring people together." He also heralded a new attitude and direction for the schools, stressing the importance of a relationship with parents and teachers that is less antagonistic than the polarization that marked his predecessor's tenure.
"There are things that need to happen, but they need to happen with people -- not to people," Fariña said, summarizing her approach to education management in New York.
But the appointment leaves much up in the air: During the Monday press conference, de Blasio and Fariña declined to answer many specific questions about the fate of Bloomberg initiatives like charter school growth and teacher evaluations, and about how they would approach contract negotiations with the United Federation of Teachers.
After months of campaign promises, Farina only has two days between her appointment and the first day of her job. The quick turnaround means advocates and experts throughout the country are left to wonder whether -- and how soon -- the