Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Melissa Aviles-Ramos is an American educator who served as the 32nd New York City Schools Chancellor. She previously served as Deputy Chancellor for family and community engagement and external affairs at the NYC DOE, and replaced David C. Banks following his resignation. She was replaced with Kamar Samuels, who currently serves the role under Zohran Mamdani.

Career Aviles-Ramos joined New York City Public Schools in 2007 as an English teacher at Truman High School. After teaching at Truman High School, Ramos was hired as the principal at Schuylerville Preparatory High School. At Schuylerville Prep, Aviles-Ramos increased the graduation rate from 23 percent to 68 percent in her first year, and from 68 percent to 83 percent in her second year. Explaining the move, mayoral spokesperson Amaris Cockfield wrote in a statement: "students are best served by having the same leadership through as much of the school year as possible, rather than changing chancellors halfway through.”