Carmen Fariña on the CATS Roundtable Radio Show

About Carmen Fariña

Chancellor Carmen Fariña is Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest school district in the United States, serving 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools. Over the past 50 years, she has worked in virtually every capacity, from teacher and principal to district superintendent and deputy chancellor, distinguishing herself as an innovative educator committed to helping students, teachers, and principals excel. As Chancellor—a role she assumed in January 2014—her priorities include meeting the needs of the whole child; engaging parents and families; ensuring collaboration, trust, and accountability within the system; and supporting rigorous Common-Core based standards to raise student achievement. A Brooklyn native, Fariña began her career as a classroom teacher specializing in social studies. She spent 22 years at Brooklyn elementary school P.S. 29. Fariña went on to become one of New York City’s most successful principal and superintendent. Under her leadership, P.S. 6 in Manhattan, a good school, rose from 76th on the citywide reading test to among the top three, becoming one of the City’s best public elementary schools. Prior to becoming Chancellor, Fariña worked as a consultant in the City’s schools, particularly assisting middle school principals.