Board of Education Director Cathie Black resigns!

Ladies and Gentlemen of Brooklynian-

I am pleased to introduce Mr Dennis Walcott:

Dennis M. Walcott is the Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development. In that 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, the Mayor's Office of Adult Education, as well as reviews the activities of the New York City School Construction Authority, City University of New York, and the City 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 board of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, and previously served as Co-Chair of the Mayor's Commission for Construction Opportunity.

As a kindergarten teacher in the childcare center where he began his career, Mr. Walcott recognized the need for a male role model in many of the children's lives, and in 1975, he founded the Frederick Douglass Brother-to-Brother program, a mentoring program for young boys. Before joining the Bloomberg Administration in 2002, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Urban League where for more than 12 years he expanded educational and youth service programs including Jeter's Leaders and Bridge to Brotherhood programs, Healthy Start, Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, and the 140th Street Building Block Program. He was previously the Executive Director of the Harlem Dowling Westside Center where he expanded services to children and families.

A graduate of New York City public schools and a lifelong Southeast Queens resident, Mr. Walcott graduated from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut with a Bachelor's degree and a Master of Education in 1973 and 1974, respectively, and in 1980, received his Master of Social Work from Fordham University. He has served on numerous boards including Carver Bank Corporation, Primary Care Development Corporation, the former New York City Board of Education, an adjunct professor of social work at York College, and as a talk show radio host. Mr. Walcott and Denise, his wife, have four children: Dejeanne, Dana, Shatisha and Timmy; and two grandsons, Justin and Gavin.

Source: http://www.nyc.gov:80/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.047d873163b300bc6c4451f401c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=nyc_photo_slide&catID=1194&doc_name=http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/bios/bio_om_dm_policy.html

There is a short ad before the interview.

http://www.wpix.com/videobeta/5e260b12-ed78-4841-8d03-2e610df671d2/News/Assemblyman-Hakeen-Jeffries-On-New-NYC-Schools-Chancellor

It might be just my impression, but I think Hakeen Jefferies does a really good job at remaining composed.

For example, he managed to refrain from dancing around the stage, and joyously shouting "yes!"