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It was a Monday morning in 2022 when the news started trickling out. One by one, veteran educators in the New York City Department of Education (DOE) were being told their services were no longer needed in their current roles. By the time the dust settled, nearly every community superintendent in the nation’s largest school district was effectively fighting for their job.
The phrase nyc doe superintendents fired might sound like a singular event, but it was actually a rolling tide of administrative upheaval. Under the direction of then-Chancellor David Banks and Mayor Eric Adams, the "reapplication" process became a polite way of saying the old guard was being cleared out.
Honestly, it was a mess. Some people saw it as a long-overdue housecleaning of a bloated bureaucracy. Others, specifically the parents in Queens who took to the streets, saw it as a betrayal of local leadership.
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The 2022 Shakeup: Reapply or Walk
When David Banks took the helm, he didn’t just want to tweak the system. He wanted to blow it up. He started by eliminating the nine "Executive Superintendent" roles—a middle-management layer created by the previous administration. Then came the big move: every single one of the 45 district superintendents had to re-interview for their own positions.
It wasn’t just a formality.
Take the case of Dr. Philip Composto in District 30 (Queens). He was a beloved figure. When the news hit that he wasn't being invited back for a final interview, the community erupted. State Senator Michael Gianaris and other local reps were "livid." They held rallies. They signed petitions. The pressure was so intense that the DOE actually backtracked, allowing Composto and others to stay in the running.
But the reprieve wasn't universal. In Brooklyn's District 15, Anita Skop—a veteran with a long history of navigating the city's complex integration battles—was not rehired. Banks said he wanted to go in a "different direction." It’s that kind of corporate-speak that really grinds the gears of parents who just want to know why the person running their kid’s school district is suddenly gone.
Why the "Purge" Happened
The official line was about "empowerment."
Banks wanted superintendents to be the "one-stop shop" for principals. Before this, a principal might have to call three different offices to get a toilet fixed or a teacher hired. By moving 1,000 central and borough-level staffers into district offices, the idea was to give these superintendents real power.
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But power comes with a price. If you’re going to have more authority, you have to be "aligned" with the Chancellor’s vision. For Banks, that meant a heavy focus on the "Science of Reading" and career-readiness. If a superintendent didn't seem 100% on board with the new literacy mandate, their seat got warm very quickly.
2024 and 2025: The Secondary Waves
If you thought the drama ended in 2022, you haven't been following NYC politics lately. The turnover didn't stop.
By late 2024, the situation shifted from "policy-driven exits" to "scandal-driven departures." Chancellor David Banks himself was forced to resign early in October 2024, amid a whirlwind of federal investigations into the Adams administration. His replacement, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, barely had time to hang her coat before the next wave of exits hit.
Just this past April 2025, we saw the sudden removal of District 16 Superintendent Brendan Mims in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
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Mims was popular with many dads and local non-profits, but a "breakdown in the relationship" with the local Community Education Council (CEC) led to his reassignment to a disciplinary hearing office. Parents were beyond frustrated. It felt like the 2022 playbook all over again: a sudden move, a vague explanation, and a community left wondering who was actually in charge.
The Current State of Leadership (January 2026)
Now that we’re in early 2026, the landscape has shifted yet again. With Zohran Mamdani taking over as Mayor, the "Banks Era" is officially over. Mamdani just appointed Kamar Samuels—a former Manhattan and Brooklyn superintendent—as the new Schools Chancellor.
It’s a fascinating choice. Samuels is known for his work on school integration and his support for the International Baccalaureate program. But more importantly, his rise represents the end of the "fired" era and the start of something else. Mamdani campaigned on ending mayoral control entirely, which would mean these superintendents might soon answer to local boards rather than a single person in a downtown office.
What This Means for You
If you’re a parent or a teacher, the revolving door of leadership isn't just a news story—it’s a disruption. When a superintendent is fired or "not rehired," the following usually happens:
- Policy Stalling: New literacy or math programs often lose momentum as the new leader "assesses" the situation.
- Principal Turnover: Superintendents hire principals. When the superintendent leaves, the principals they protected often feel vulnerable.
- Budget Confusion: Money that was promised for specific district initiatives can "disappear" back into the central DOE pot during transitions.
How to Navigate the Chaos
Basically, you can't just trust that the DOE will keep you informed. You've gotta be proactive.
- Join your CEC: The Community Education Councils are where the real fight happens. As we saw in District 16, a CEC's relationship with a superintendent can literally make or break their career.
- Follow the money: Look at the "Fair Student Funding" reports for your specific school. If your superintendent was recently replaced, check if there are shifts in how resources are being allocated across the district.
- Watch the "reassignments": In NYC, people are rarely "fired" in the private-sector sense. They are "reassigned" to administrative offices. If you see a great leader get moved to a "suspension hearing office," that's a red flag that political maneuvering is at play.
The saga of nyc doe superintendents fired is really a story about the tug-of-war between City Hall and local neighborhoods. Whether it's David Banks' restructuring or the current Mamdani transition, the people at the top will always want to pick their own team. Your job is to make sure the kids don't get lost in the shuffle.
Next Steps for Stakeholders
- For Parents: Check the minutes of your last CEC meeting to see if your current superintendent has provided a "District Comprehensive Improvement Plan" (DCIP). If they haven't, or if the leadership is "acting," ask for a timeline on a permanent appointment.
- For Educators: Monitor the transition from the "Science of Reading" mandates to the newer integration and IB-focused priorities likely coming under Chancellor Kamar Samuels.