New York City’s Deputy Chancellor Simone C. Hawkins, the Black woman who serves as head of early childhood education, is leaving her role in September. Hawkins oversaw Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s ambitious 2-K program as well as the city’s pre-K and 3-K programs.
Hawkins was appointed by former Schools Chancellor David C. Banks in 2024, who had served in former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. She was previously the Chief Executive of Early Childhood Operations for Adams in 2022, and Chief Equity Officer for the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Her job was to oversee the education of children up to age 5, and the implementation of NYC Reads classrooms.
“I am deeply proud of all that my team and I have accomplished in service of our youngest New Yorkers,” said Hawkins in a statement, according to Gothamist. “Over the past two years as Deputy Chancellor, we’ve improved practice, launched 2-K, a historic program that will deliver affordable child care for New York City families, and opened schools that for too long have sat vacant.”
A cornerstone of Mamdani’s campaign pledges, the 2-K initiative aims to fulfill his promise of universal free childcare. Earlier this month, the city received more than 2,000 children into the inaugural 2-K class, with more than 5,700 families having applied across five initial school districts. Families who did not receive an initial offer were waitlisted. The city said it plans to expand the 2K program to serve about 12,000 children, including families on Staten Island, in 2027.
Advocates are perturbed by the announcement of Hawkins leaving. Brooklyn’s Community Education Council (CEC) District 16 said in a joint statement that the group “is deeply concerned” by what her departure represents.
“Representation in leadership is not symbolic. It matters. It shapes perspectives, informs decision-making, and builds trust with the communities our schools serve,” said CEC 16.
“Across our nation, many Black communities are expressing growing concern about the declining presence of Black women in executive leadership. While every leadership transition has its own circumstances, the loss of the only Black female Deputy Chancellor in the nation’s largest school system cannot simply be viewed in isolation.
“It deserves thoughtful reflection and honest conversation. As parent leaders in Central Brooklyn, we know that our children benefit when leadership reflects the diversity of the communities it serves,” the statement continued.
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels praised Hawkins for helping grow the city’s early childhood education programs and tackle payment delays to providers, in a statement that appeared in Chalkbeat New York. “Over the last few years, Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins was a leader in making New York City more affordable and accessible for working families.”
