On May 27, Bank Street hosted its 2025 Niemeyer Series lecture spotlighting the work of Melissa Avilés-Ramos, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools; and Simone Hawkins, Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood Education, New York City Public Schools. The event, titled “Shaping the Future of Public Education in NYC: A Conversation with New York City Public Schools,” explored the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the city’s education system.
Moderated by Tracy Fray-Oliver, Vice President, Bank Street Education Center, the engaging panel discussion featured remarks from Avilés-Ramos, Hawkins, and Shael Polakow-Suransky, GSE ’00, President, Bank Street College. The conversation reaffirmed a collective commitment to advancing more inclusive, responsive, and high-quality public education.
In her opening remarks, Fray-Oliver framed the conversation as both urgent and hopeful. “This is a critical moment—when our city and nation are facing complex educational challenges,” she said. “As we face pressing questions around equity, curriculum, and democracy, tonight’s dialogue is about naming what’s at stake—and envisioning what’s possible.”
The panelists discussed the major shifts needed to improve the learning experiences of New York City’s more than 900,000 public school students, including strategies for professional development for educators and school leaders, teacher retention, and building better support for mental health, early childhood education, and multilingual learners.
Chancellor Avilés-Ramos spoke about the importance of aligning instruction with real-world needs while investing in safety and family engagement. She emphasized the need to create systems that support both student success and teacher growth across preparation, classroom practice, and leadership development.
Advocating for New York City’s youngest learners, Hawkins spoke about the need for early education that is not just accessible, but also high-quality. She highlighted equity-driven leadership as a means for shaping better learning outcomes.
The panelists also emphasized the importance of strong partnerships between K–12 systems and higher education institutions like Bank Street. President Polakow-Suransky spoke about the College’s collaborative work with New York City Public Schools in math education and educator support.
“We are proud of our collaborations, and we’re committed to building the capacity of educators to meet the moment. We believe in preparing educators to thrive and stay in the profession. That’s the foundation of sustainable change,” he said.
The panel discussion closed with an audience question and answer session and was followed by a reception in the lobby for additional discussion and networking.
The Niemeyer Series is an annual event comprising lectures and symposia focused on urgent matters of educational interest. The Series is dedicated to the memory of John H. Niemeyer, Bank Street’s second president, for his leadership in helping Bank Street College of Education become a national voice for children beyond practice and into policy. This year’s event included over 300 educators, policy makers, and community members in the audience.