Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 13 members to the Panel for Instructional Coverage (PEP), a governing board that oversees many choices affecting NYC public faculties, forward of the panel’s inaugural 2026-27 assembly on Wednesday.
In keeping with the mayor’s workplace, the slate of panelists embody each returning and newly appointed members to PEP, all of who can have duties starting from voting on contracts, approving varied adjustments and holding public conferences for folks, college students, lecturers and the group.
“Public schools belong to New Yorkers, and the families, students and educators who make them what they are deserve a real voice in the decisions that shape them,” Mamdani mentioned. “The Panel for Educational Policy has a vital responsibility to help guide our school system with transparency and accountability. I am grateful to these members for stepping up to serve our city and for bringing the experience and commitment our students deserve.”
Whereas the 13 members had been newly appointed, your entire PEP has 24 members representing varied neighborhoods all through the 5 boroughs.
In keeping with the DOE, most PEP members embody former educators resembling lecturers and principals, advocates and specialists of their various fields.
“The Panel for Educational Policy is a critical partner in ensuring that the voices of families and communities are heard and reflected in the decisions that shape our schools,” Public Colleges Chancellor Kamar Samuels mentioned. “Meaningful collaboration with the Panel strengthens transparency, accountability and our shared commitment to putting children first. I look forward to working alongside our new members in service of every child and the future of public education.”
The brand new PEP appointees
These are members Mamdani appointed to the PEP on Tuesday, per a press launch from the mayor’s workplace.
Karla Cordero serves as Chief of Employees at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the place she guides the group’s strategic route and organizational change initiatives. Earlier than becoming a member of WE ACT, she spent 12 years in New York Metropolis authorities, creating insurance policies and packages serving underserved communities throughout social companies, sustainability and financial growth.
Tariq Khan works in funds and finance for the MTA. He has spent greater than 29 years at MTA NYC Transit, serving in roles together with funds evaluation supervisor, upkeep program supervisor, principal transportation planner, pc specialist and affiliate employees analyst.
Mehrain Mahdi is an training advocate and guardian chief who served on the Faculty Management Group at a District 2 college, the place she established an after-school Spanish program. She can be the founding father of Little Leaping Leaders, a management and enrichment program for younger women.
Alan Ong is a longtime guardian and group chief in Queens. He beforehand served as a PTA president earlier than becoming a member of the Group Training Council (CEC) District 26, the place he later served as president. Ong has held quite a few management positions whereas advocating on training, civic and group points.
Amy Honest is a group advocate and academic chief with greater than 25 years of expertise in larger training administration. She serves as director of strategic initiatives and particular tasks at NYU Steinhardt, the place she oversees operational planning, cross-functional initiatives, emergency preparedness and institutional tasks.
Courtney Rajwani is a managing advisor at The Lewin Group. She beforehand served as government director for coverage growth and assist within the New York Metropolis Public Colleges (NYCPS) Division of Early Childhood Training in the course of the de Blasio administration. Rajwani started her profession at an academic nonprofit in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Crystal Vera-Montalvo has served as director of group academic engagement on the Faculty of Staten Island (CSI) since 2018. She oversees CUNY persevering with training English as a Second Language and GED packages, together with lifelong studying packages for older adults and adults with mental and developmental disabilities.
Marjorie Dienstag is a mom of three whose kids have attended each private and non-private faculties in New York Metropolis, together with a present scholar in a District 75 college.
Lucas Koehler is chief monetary officer on the Basis for Metropolis Faculty, the place he oversees monetary administration for a $500 million endowment. He beforehand performed a key position in increasing New York Metropolis’s early childhood training system and labored on the Mayor’s Workplace of Administration and Finances and as a seventh-grade math instructor within the Bronx.
Primo Lasana is chief affect officer on the Discussion board for Youth Funding. He beforehand served as government director of Studying Companions and director of recent web site growth at iMentor. Lasana additionally serves as chair of the Finance and Improvement Committee of the Kings County Hospital Group Advisory Board and beforehand served as first vice chair of Brooklyn Group Board 9.
Kristin Jefferson is a senior training advisor at Instructing Issues and founding father of KJ-Ed Options LLC. She beforehand served as tutorial director and community multilingual learner coordinator at Discover Constitution Colleges and as director of recruitment within the New York Metropolis Division of Training’s Workplace of New Colleges.
Dr. Maddy Fox is an affiliate professor of Kids and Youth Research and Sociology at Brooklyn Faculty. She can be a school member in city training and important psychology on the CUNY Graduate Middle and a founding researcher with the Public Science Mission.
Raysa Rodriguez is the chief director of Residents’ Committee for Kids (CCC) of New York. A lifelong youngster advocate, she has spent greater than twenty years advancing fairness in training, housing, youngster welfare and financial justice.
