New York City's new school chancellor takes over

David C. Banks has been appointed Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation.

Banks is the former President and CEO of the Eagle Academy Foundation, and the founding principal of The Eagle Academy for Young Men, the first school in a network of all-boys public schools in New York City and Newark, N.J.

Banks is a lifelong New Yorker and a graduate of New York City public schools, attending P.S. 161 in Brooklyn and Hillcrest High School in Queens.His first teaching job was at P.S. 167 in Brooklyn. He went on to become a founding principal at the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice.

In 2004, Banks led the establishment of the first Eagle Academy for Young Men as part of New York City’s high school reform initiative in partnership with 100 Black Men, Inc. The Eagle model has since been adopted in schools throughout New York City and Newark, N.J.

Banks is a co-founder of Black EdFluencers United, an organization dedicated to influencing and developing the capacity of Black educators and raising awareness about systemic challenges within education.

He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, co-chair of New York City Young Men's Initiative, and founding board member of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color.

Banks is a graduate of Rutgers University and received his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law.