[POSTPONED] Future of the City: Conversation with Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos

                         Please note that this event has been postponed until further notice. 

Join the Museum of the City of New York as we commemorate 400+ years of New York City with Future of the City: Conversations with NYC Commissioners to learn about the role and services of key NYC departments. Hear from Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor of NYC Public Schools about the future of education in NYC in a moderated discussion with Jillian Jorgensen, Spectrum News NY1.

Co-Presented by the New York City Public Schools.

About the Speakers:

Melissa Aviles-Ramos is Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the nation. She was formerly the Deputy Chancellor of Family and Community Engagement and External Affairs, as well as the Chief of Staff to former Chancellor David C. Banks. In those roles, she oversaw innovative family engagement programs such as NYC Literacy Hubs and our Family Literacy Ambassadors; she also launched and led Project Open Arms, our unprecedented effort to welcome, enroll, and support 45,000-plus of our newest New Yorkers.  

As the leader of NYCPS, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos will ensure consistent and thorough implementation of key initiatives, from NYC Reads and NYC Solves to reimagined Student Pathways. She believes deeply that our schools must provide every student with a solid foundation in reading and math, while preparing them for well-paying jobs.     

Additionally, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos plans to prioritize physical safety and emotional wellness, enhanced professional development for teachers, and in-depth family and community engagement.   

Chancellor Aviles-Ramos began her career as an English teacher and NYC Teaching Fellow at Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx. She later served as principal at Schuylerville Prep and then became the acting superintendent to Bronx HS District 8, 10 and 11. Chancellor Aviles-Ramos earned her Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, Master of Arts in English Education from the City College of New York, and Advanced Certificates in school and district leadership from College of Saint Rose. She is a native New Yorker, a Latina, and a proud NYCPS parent. 

Jillian Jorgensen is an Emmy-winning education reporter at Spectrum News NY1. A graduate of New York City public schools and a native of Staten Island, Jillian first got her chance to grill elected officials about the school system when she was a senior at Staten Island Tech. Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited to hold a press conference announcing that the school would become a specialized high school, and Jillian asked whether that would favor good test-takers.

Jillian went on to ask mayors hundreds more questions, covering City Hall for the Staten Island Advance, the New York Observer, and as the City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Daily News. She’s a past president of The Inner Circle, a century-old organization of political journalists.

During her time at NY1, Jillian covered the closure and rocky reopening of the nation’s largest school district due to the coronavirus pandemic, the system’s failure to adequately serve children with disabilities, how schools are serving recently arrived asylum seekers, and the debate over admissions to specialized high schools. In 2024, she won a New York Emmy Award in the education news category for “The New Kids,” a story documenting how one family seeking asylum found solace at school, and how one school in Chelsea adapted to serve dozens of migrant students.

When she’s not on the air, Jillian enjoys cooking, vegetable gardening, birding and spending time with her husband Andrew and their dog, Toby

Event Logistics (subject to changed based on NYC regulations):

• Please contact programs@mcny.org with any questions or ticketing issues.
• All sales are final; refunds not permitted. Exchanges and credit for future programs only. Programs and dates may be subject to change. 

General Admission $15, Members $10