69´«Ã½

School & District Management

NYC 69´«Ã½ Chancellor David Banks Plans to Resign Amid Federal Investigation

By Cayla Bamberger — September 24, 2024 1 min read
David Banks, chancellor of New York Public schools, answers a question during a House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools, May 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

New York City 69´«Ã½ Chancellor David Banks, the hand-picked head of the nation’s largest school district and a long-time family friend of Mayor Eric Adams, is expected to resign amid a federal corruption investigation, according to sources familiar.

His rumored departure comes two weeks after his and apartment raided by federal authorities. He shares the home with his fiancé Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor of New York City, who’s also been ensnared in the probe.

Banks on Tuesday afternoon called an emergency leadership meeting at the city’s education department’s headquarters at Tweed Courthouse, a source familiar told the Daily News.

Banks, who served in that role since the start of the Adams administration, would be the third top ranking administration official to resign since news of the investigation broke.

The Daily News previously reported the head of a STEM education company with city business interests within weeks of hiring his consultant brother, Terence Banks. Another client of his brothers, SaferWatch, ran a pilot of panic buttons in local public schools.

No one has been accused of wrongdoing to date, and the full scope of the investigations remain unclear.

Terence Banks’ company, The Pearl Alliance, represents multiple companies with city business dealings, including several with financial interests before his brothers David and Phil Banks’ agencies.

During his tenure as chancellor of a school system that serves nearly one million students, David Banks oversaw several major education initiatives, including a school cellphone ban and major curriculum overhauls in both and math.

Copyright (c) 2024, . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69´«Ã½
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

School & District Management Reports Strategic Resourcing for K-12 Education: A Work in Progress
This report highlights key findings from surveys of K-12 administrators and product/service providers to shed light on the alignment of purchasing with instructional goals.
School & District Management Download Shhhh!!! It's Underground Spirit Week, Don't Tell the 69´«Ã½
Try this fun twist on the Spirit Week tradition.
Illustration of shushing emoji.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How My Experience With Linda McMahon Can Help You Navigate the Trump Ed. Agenda
I have a lesson for district leaders from my (limited) interactions with Trump’s pick for ed. secretary, writes a former superintendent.
Joshua P. Starr
4 min read
Vector illustration of people walking on upward arrows, symbolizing growth, progress, and teamwork towards success.
iStock/Getty Images
School & District Management Opinion How Social-Emotional Learning Can Unify Your School Community: 7 Timely Tips
It’s a stressful political season. These SEL best practices can help school leaders weather the unpredictable transitions.
Maurice J. Elias
4 min read
Modern digital collage of caring leader surrounded by positivity. Social Emotional learning leadership.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva