David Banks, chancellor of New York City’s public schools, says that he will step down at the end of the calendar year amid escalating federal criminal investigations of Mayor Eric Adams' administration.
The Associated Press reports that Banks' decision comes weeks after federal agents seized his phones, as well as devices belonging to the city’s police commissioner, two deputy mayors and a top Adams adviser.
Banks said he informed the mayor this summer of his plan to step down “after ensuring the school year got off to a good start.”
A former teacher, principal and founder of a network of all-boys public schools, Banks has led the city’s public school system, the nation’s largest, since Adams took office in 2022.
Banks' resignation letter made no reference to the ongoing federal investigations involving Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling.
Adams said in a statement he was “immensely grateful and proud” for what Banks had achieved over his years leading the school system.
