THe City of New York OFFICE OF THE MAYOR New York, N.Y. 10007 April 7, 2011 ‘The Honorable David M. Steiner Commissioner of Education New York State Education Department Room 111 89 Washington Avenuc Albany, NY 12234 ‘Dear Commissioner Stein ‘As you ate aware, a top priority of my administration has been and continues to be ensuring that every child in New York City receives a high quality education and that every child is prepared to succeed in the 21" century by attending college or securing a job following ‘graduation. New York City has made extraordinary progress towards that goal, and continuing, that progress is essential to the future of the City and its children, With the resignation of Cathleen Black as Chancellor, I have selected suecessor whose commitment to our children, understanding of our reforms, knowledge of the New York City schools, and desire to continue improving our schools are unsurpassed. J intend fo appoint Dennis M. Waleott as Chancellor, Mr, Waleott has served with great distinction as Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development, and he bes been integral to the success of New York City’s educational reforms throughout the entirety of my administration, For almost forty years, from the time he began his career as a kindergarten teacher through his current position as Deputy Mayor, Mr. Walcott has dedicated his life to working on educational and youth services issues. He has vast expetience in and a deep understanding of the many complex issues that face the Chancellor of New York City Schools, including diverse student populations, fiscal and budgetary matters, construction and facilities management, the importance of school-level decision making, and the critical nature of teacher quality and what happens in the classroom, He is also a skilled communicator who understands the vital need for building relationships within the school system and the communities it serves, as he has been doing for three decades, He is exceptionally qualified to serve as Chancellor. Accordingly, I wnite to request a Schoo! District Leader certificate for Mr. Waleott to serve as Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools, State Education Law section 3003(3) and 8 NYCRR Part 80-3,10(b)(3)(ti) authorize the Commissioner of Education to grant a School District Leader certificate to exceptionally qualified candidates who do not meet certain cciucational and training requirements; but “whose exceptional training and experience are the substautial equivalent of such requirements and qualify such persons for the duties of a superintendent of schools.” As demonstrated below, his educational background, training andexperience are the substantial equivalent of the Commissioner's requirements, and amply qualify hina for the duties of'a New York Schools Chancellor. Therefore, ! respectfully request that you grant this certificate to Mr, Walcott. A lifelong resident of southeast Queens, Mr, Walcott is a graduate of the New York City publie schools, having attended P.S. 36, JLHLS. 192, and Francis Lewis High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and a Master of Education in 1974 from the University of Bridgeport, He also received a Master of Social Work from Fordham University in 1980, ‘earning in excess of 60 graduate credits. Thus, Mr, Walcott meets most of the academic credentials required for issuance of a School District Leader certificate. See Educ. Law § 3003(1)(a); 8 NYCRR Patt 80-3.10(b), Mi, Waleott's background, knowledge, and experience make him an excellent choice for Chancellor. He was appointed Deputy Mayor for Policy in 2002, and since 2006 has served as Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development. In this capacity, he oversees and coordinates the operations of the Department of Education, the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of Youth and Community Development and the Mayor's Office of Adult Education, as well as reviews the activities of the New York City School Construction Authority, the City University of New York, and the ‘University Construction Fund. Mr. Walcott is also responsible for collaborating with community-based organizations citywide and coordinating policies concerning youth programs and adult education, He currently serves on the boatd of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, and previously served 95, Co-Chair of the Mayor's Commission for Construction Opportunity, Past board memberships include Catver Bank, Municipal Arts Society, and Primary Care Development Corporation. ‘Throughout my tenure as Mayor, Deputy Mayor Walcott has been my point person on all City educational and youth policy, planning and programmatic efforts, He has been involved in every key educational policy decision of this Administration and the Department of Education, including helping to champion Mayoral conttol of the City schools in 2002 and securing its subsequent reauthorization; ending social promotion; developing the DOE’s capital program; overseeing the opening of approximately 140 new school buildings, additions and annexes, supporting the establishment of over 350 new district schools and over 100 new charter schools; ‘championing the lifting of the charter school cap; and advising on the adoption of the Common Core State Stancards,’ During his time as Deputy Mayor, Mr. Walcott has visited hundreds of schools and forged relationships with teachers, principals and administrators at every level of the New York City Department of Education, He regularly discusses labor matters with officials of evory union representing Department of Education employees, and, as you know, he is regularly in contact with officials of the New York State Education Department on matters related to the New York City schools, Deputy Mayor Walcott has advised Chancellor Klein, Chancellor Black, and me on every operational, budget, and policy issue affecting the City’s schools and its students sines 2002; and his knowledge of those issues and of the challenges facing the New ‘York City Depariment of Education is beyond compare. Moreover, as Deputy Mayor he has gained an understanding of the City budget and State and federal funding streams that will be critica] during the diffioult budget times facing the City, the State, and the Department of Edueation, Mr, Waleott’s devotion to educational issues and youth development has been the hallmark of his enreer, Mr. Walcott possesses a New York State Permanent Teaching Certificate for Nursery, Kindergarten and Grades 1-6, and he began his eareer in 1974 as a kindergarten teacher at Amistad Child Care Center in South Jamaica, Queens, After approximately one and 2half years as a teacher, Mr, Waleott founded the Frederick Douglass Brother-to-Brother Program, a mentoring program for young boys from diverse backgrounds in South Jamaica, The program enlisted men to serve as “big brothers”—role models and mentors—for the childen in the program. Mr. Walcott not only ran the program but also served as a big brother to two boys. Itis worth noting that Mr. Walcott is still friendly with his two “little brothers,” who are now grown men. ‘When Mr. Walcott went to Fordham to pursue his Master of Social Work in 1977, he also ‘went to work at Spence Chapin Services to Families and Children, While there, he provided foster care adoption services and ran counseling groups for adolescent foster children, He then joined the Greater New York Fund/United Way, where he worked with not-for-profit ‘corporations and corporate professionals to administer and allocate grants for foster care services, In 1985, Mr, Walcott became the Executive Director of Harlem Dowling Children’s: Services, where he was responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of that “organization’s operations and policy. Harlem Dowling provided an array of child welfare services, including finding and maintaining foster homes, adoption services, preventative services, and educational programs. Initially, Harlem Dowling operated primarily in Harlem, but Mr, Waleott oversaw a merger with the West Side Center for Children and Family Services, which permitted Harlem Dowling to begin providing services citywide, ‘Thus, by this point in his career Mr. Walcott had already gained significant experience in education and youth services, including how to manage and operate a citywide organization providing such services, and @ deep understanding of issues facing youth in New York City. In 1990, Mr. Walcott became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League, a position he held until T appointed him es Deputy Mayor in 2002, As President, he expanded educational and youth service programs, including Jeter’s Leaders and Bridge to Brotherhood programs, Healthy Start, Northern Manhattan Prenatal Partnership, and the 140th Street Building Block Program, His rnany efforts centered on promoting academic excellence and school attendance, preventing drop-outs, supporting interracial and inter-ethnic youth cooperation, and developing college scholarship programs though effective public-private partnerships, including with Wall Street. The Urban League’s focus on education also included partnerships with New York City schools and schoo! communities. In 1998, under Mr ‘Walcott’s leadership, the Urban League worked with the United Federation of ‘Teachers, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, and several community based organizations to secure a significant grant from the Board of Fdueation to run a schoo! leadership training program-to train parents to become school leaders, While at the Urban League, Mr. Walcott became one of New York City’s most prominent educational leaders. In 1993, Mayor David Dinkins appointed Mir, Waleott to the then Board of Education, where he served for approximately thirteen months and was involved in policies, budget matters and operational issues pertaining to New York City schools, ineluding the appointment of a new Chancellor, Ray Cortines. Even before becoming Deputy Mayor, Mr. Waloott had close working relationships with every Chancellor from the early 1990s onward, ineluding Chancellors Cortines, Fernandez, Crew, and Levy, In 1997, when Chanecllor Grew suspended Community School Board 5, he appointed Mr, Walcott as a Trustee and Chait of the ‘Trustee Board for District 5. In that capacity, Mr. Walcott oversaw the community district’s educational policies for over a year. Later, in 2000, Mr. Walcott was appointed to serve on a task foree convened by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Partnership for New York City 3President and CEO Katherine Wylde to study New York City school governance policies. And throughout his time at the Urban League, Mr. Walcott hosted call-in radio shows on WWRL ancl WLIB, wisere he discussed a variety of local topics, including edueation, and interviewed local elected officials, and education and community Jeaders.' He also served on the New York City Voter Assistance Commission, spearheading a significant effort to educate the voting public on pavticipation in community schoo! board elections. During this time, Mr. Walcott also gained additional teaching experience, He served as ‘an adjumet professor in social sciences at York College during 1997 and 1998. ‘As demonstrated above, Deputy Mayor Walcott’s knowledge of the New York City schools has only deepened since the advent of Mayoral control, and his other work as Deputy ‘Mayor is also relevant to your consideration of this application. His work with the Department of Youth and Community Development, for instance, has involved oversight of DYCD's out-of school time programs and Beacon Centers, all of which support the Department of Education's objectives and provide a wide range of highly successful and innovative strategies centering on academic commitment and excellence, high school transition, literacy, math skills, lendership development, drop-out prevention, test preparation, and nutrition. His work with NYCHA has involved major poliey issues pertaining to NYCHA residents who attend City schools and their families, His work with CUNY has given him first-hand insight into the partnership between the Department of Education and CUNY, which has deepened during my administeation, And his ‘work with the Mayor's Office of Adult Education, which he created, has involved, among other things, coordination with the Department of Education's District 79. Finally, he is also a public school parent, as all of his children attended New York City public schools, and his grandson now attends a New York City publie school, ‘To call Dennis Walcott “exceptionally qualified” to serve as Chancellor of the New York City Sehoois is an understatement. He is an extraordinary leader in civil rights, community outreach, youth and family services, and education, and he has a knowledge of the New York City schools and its students, parents, teachers, and administrators that is second to none. Hlis experience, insights, and knowledge have been vital to the progress we have made so far in New York City, and {have every confidence that as Chancellor he will lead our schools and our students even further,” “Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michaéf R, Bloomberg Mayor " Additionally daring the surnmer of 2009, when the first Mayoral control statute lad expired and the previous school governance law had come back into effec, I appointed Mir. Waleott to serve on the Board of Education, and hho was elected President of the Board, That service ended upon ihe Legislature's reenactment of Mayoral control hat fall, 2 Mf, Walcott is aware of he requizement for child abuse and school violence prevention training and wil con that coursework expeditiously, 4 eteNEW YORK CITY PARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHANCELLOR JOB DESCRIPTION April 2011 Position: New York City Schools Chancellor: Mayoral Appointee Authority and Responsibility: ‘The Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education serves as chief executive officer for the city school district and the superintendent of schools, and performs other duties as described below. ‘Term: The Chancellor serves at the pleasure of and is employed by the Mayor of the City of New York by contract for a term not fo exceed by more than {wo years the term of office of the mayor authorizing such contract. Powers and Duties: ‘The powers and duties of the Chancellor are set forth in section 2590-h and other relevant sections of the New York Education Law. They include, but are not limited to: «Promote an equal educational opportunity for all students in the schools of the city district, promote fiscal and educational equity, and inctease student achievement and schoo! performance © Promulgate minimum clear educational standards, curriculum requirements and frameworks, ‘and mandatory educational objectives applicable to all schools and programs throughout the city district, and examine and evaluate all such schools anc! programs with respect to theit compliance and their educational effectiveness + Promote a parents’ association or parent-teachers’ association in cach school under the Chancellor's jurisdiction «Control and operate academic and vocational senior high schools, specialized senior high schools, and special eclucation programs and services ‘* Ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations concerning school-based management and shared decision-making # Prepare an educational impact statement regarding any proposed school closing or significant change in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co- location of schools, for any publie school located within the city district ‘+ Create standards, policies and objectives and promulgate regulations directly related to maintaining the internal fiscal integrity of administrative operations by the Chancellor, the community distriets and the schools «Ensure compliance with qualifications established for all personnel employed in the city district, and exercise all of the duties and responsibilities of the employing board with respect to any members of the teaching or supervisory staif of schools + Establish uniform procedures for record keeping, accounting and reporting throughout the city distriet ‘# Delegate any powers and duties to subordinate officers or employees Develop an educalional facilities master plan and a five-year educational facilities capital planPromulgate regulations establishing educational, managerial, and administrative qualifications, performance record criteria, and performance standards for the positions of superintendent and principal Seleet and appoint community superintendents Intervene in any district or school which is persistently failing to achieve educational results and standards or has failed to improve its educational results and student achievement Develop a school-based budgeting process for schools under the Chancellor's jurisdiction, and promote the effectiveness and integrity of school-based budgeting Develop a procurement poliey for the New York City school district and the commu districts and publie schools therein Establish uniform procedures for record keeping, accounting and reporting throughout the city district Establish a system of intemal controls, including internal administrative controls ant accounting controls, with provisions for internal audits Develop and furnish pre-service and in-service training programs for principals and other employees throughout the city district, and allocate sufficient funds for teacher and principal training to meet school improvement needs Promote the involvement and appropriate input of all members of the school community ternalTiAl STATR EDUCATION OUPARTBAENT / THE UNNERSITY OF THE STATE. OF NEWYORK ALBANY, MY 12234 fens ies of Tasca nitabat Rise Beeciecke Outs fimo. wy ae ‘Application for Schoo! District Leader “The Information on this application le coladied once snd wil be used io create he pploation prota the Education Department database. Ths beac lrormetion le needed for alepplcaione. The nant fend ecoreas on thie appuicaton wil be ued ox all Correspondence, ceruhoetes, ord cearances ftUniversity of Bridgeport yelor_ OF Ate Seneca a | a Pisani te ceceaeett Jeane eace ere Eta University of Bridgeport Master of science Ts dynot tow wa 3, piveae enter the Wei tey Fordham University Mastera in Social Work ay Testi fi at sa ov raven pase omar thy sie or 09-02-1977 asin for nok know he ere 02-1980 | deen of aaereare, planae enter tx tty 05-0: Fes wWisao10tn te Application Sees ‘Tie Corthoate Type ‘Adrinkatrion and Pup Perornal Serdcee, Scocel et Lesser —_ Frvleliral Cosma |Affidavit concerning Chili Support and Moral Character asoaire ca TET ES oT SL STCRNG oie aide, Tonto Wink ah Ge batman 1 proved la Gin and Coss Ne RATSPTOSONRDOO a oui nme rely wnsa010Toulbue: $100.0 U80 \ nereby certly that all the statements, atsaltions, Information, and date contelnedinthis mpplicaton are {rue and accurate. | understand that any delberate misstatements contained In Bi appomtion may be [founds for action ageinst me, oar een ata pate:_Y\ s | nnsnotoEmployment Information Enter information about your paid professional work experience in public or nonpublic school system. List all experience (pre K-12 classroom teaching, pupil personnel services, administrative/supervisory), regardless of whether it corresponds to a certificate for which you are applying. Enter Paid Professional Work Experience Name of Schoot: — Amistad Child Care Center ‘School Location (e.9., City & State): Queens, NY Dates of Employment: From; 09 /01 /1974 To: 02 128 M976 “Employment Type’ © EuilTime: (80 percent or greater) © part Time: (Less than 80 percent) *School Type : © private © Public Describe subject, grades, or areas taught or supervisory/administrative or pupil | personnel services position: Kindergarten teacher herby certify that the information above Is trus and accurate. | understand that any deliberate misrepresentations contained on this page may be grounds for action against me. Signed under the pepalty of perjury. SOT pate: fai oe‘New York Urban League Dennis M. Walcott Professional Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development City of New York 2006-present Deputy Mayor for Policy City of New York 2002-2006 President and Chief Executive Officer 1990 - 2001 York College Adjunct Professor, Social Sciences, 1997-1998 Harlem Dowling Westside Center Executive Director, 1985-1990 Greater New York Fund, United Way Associate Director for Agency Relations, 1979-1985 Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children Caseworker, 1977-1979 Frederick Douglass Brother to Brother Program, Founder and Director, 1976-1978 Amistad Child Care Center Kindergarten Teacher, 1974-1976 Organizational/Business Affiliations Governor's Island Corporation Board member, 2010-present Governor’s Island Preservation and Education Corporation Board member, 2003-2010 Mayor"s Commission for Construction Opportunity Co-Chair, 2005-2010Task Force on New York City School Governance Member, 2000 Community School Board, Community School District #5 President of Trustee Board, 1998 New York City Voter Assistance Commission Chairperson, 1993-1998 ‘New York City Police Department’s Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect Committee Co-Chair, 1997-2000 Primary-Care Development Corporation Member, Board of Directors, 1998-2001 Mayor's Police Community Relations Task Fore Member, 1997-1998 Municipal Art Society Member, Board of Direetors, 1997-1999 New York City Board of Education President, Summer 2009 Member, 1993-1994 Human Resources Administration Advisory Committee Chairperson, 1989-1993 Governor George Pataki’s Transition Committee Memiber, 1994 National Black Child Development Institute Member, Board of Directors, 1993-1999 Jamaica Business Resource Center ‘Member, Board of Directors Member, 1997-2001 United Hospital Fund Board of Directors Member, Board of Directors, 1999-2001 Carver Bank Corp. Member, Board of Directors, 1999-2001 Independence Bank Foundation ‘Member, Board of Directors, 1998-2000ST ALBA iy: haa “= SES ron a Saat, fol et aca oa sae tmmemtmawort | WAU Buggete uot ae eae i. gener 6 Sehpnes all cm aaa “4 aan Seip bitte, Af. Sa joogs | Same : . : a wu or raaounrcns Dennis Weleott : feet es =a ‘cone TI goon METI fay ete and SeLensd aot axUg3uh ‘LaTBOSNVEL V HOS ALTHOISNOASSH (ON S3WNSSY ALISHBAINN SAL Woz 20 adv 5 aaa paulo __ aa come sti eos eel | a rae a ert ane SIA grees yen op un gE LI LPR TRieS ip uo nad eonmenge apo 271977. o9et sop WELFARE POLICY 4 SERVE 002° FOUNDATIONS OF vEHAWIORAL Sct EMCI SPRING 1978. * sn How, 6000 “ABM 62008 77 i ou SED TISINTEGRATIVE SEM C2NDYRIYR LO ‘u GHAL, WORK, PRAGTIGE IN AMINESTRATION 3” t-Bu DEVE ENE . OMMLANE TIES T |-H-8 — 44046 —PROGRRAH & PROPE MSW “66001 SOCIAL WORK PRACITCE IN 67002 FIELD ON FZAINTEORA TIVE SEM (YR £62 S6011 SOCIAL WORK. PRACTICE IW ADMENIGTRATION IZ $4005 HIGROSYSTEN PRACTICE NTH BLACK FANILIES ‘$6015 SUPERVIBION § STAFF DEVELOPHENT - : 66012 | ORGANIZATION AND- HOT THEORY LON FIDENTALRECOWD FOR VoursxctustvE ase. OTTO BEGNENTO APPLIC nel