Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who serves as the Deputy Chancellor of the city Department of Education, will take over as Chancellor, multiple officials tell Gothamist, when David Banks steps down from his post to retire.
Aviles-Ramos led the effort to integrate tens of thousands of migrant children into the schools. In her current role, she oversees family and community engagement for the school system. The officials requested anonymity ahead of an official announcement by City Hall.
Earlier this month, the FBI searched the Harlem home David Banks shares with his partner, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Agents also searched the Queens home of his brother, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.
The investigation reportedly involves a government relations firm started by a third Banks brother, Terence Banks.
The Banks brothers have denied wrongdoing and David Banks has said his lawyer told him he is not the “target” of the investigation.
Mayor Eric Adams and David Banks have been close for years, and he was one of Adams’ first appointments, though some say the relationship frayed in recent months.
In a letter to Adams about his retirement, the chancellor said he was “incredibly proud” of his tenure, including efforts to overhaul literacy instruction by requiring a stronger foundation in phonics in the early years and a shift in curriculum.
He also talked about how schools have welcomed migrant families, contributing to an increase in enrollment for the first time in years, and expansion of special education and career training, among other programs.
This is a developing story and will be updated.