Cathleen P. Black Is Out as City Schools Chancellor

[The Straight Story]

Updated | 11:08 a.m. Cathleen P. Black, a magazine executive with no educational experience who was named as New York City schools chancellor last fall, will step down Thursday morning at the mayor’s urging, city officials said, after a tumultuous and brief tenure.

Ms. Black’s departure, which comes on the heels of the departures of several other high-ranking education officials, was nearly as surprising as her appointment. When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plucked her from Hearst Magazines to run the nation’s largest public school system, people in New York and across the country — including some of the mayor’s closest aides — were stunned.

Ms. Black will be replaced by Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott, who has long aided the mayor in educational matters, officials said. A NY1-Marist poll released on Monday put Ms. Black’s approval rating at 17 percent, with 23 percent of adults not sure or never having heard of her.

Mr. Walcott is to appear with Mr. Bloomberg at an 11:30 a.m. City Hall news conference to announce the change. Ms. Black will not be in attendance, according to a person briefed on the plans. The mayor’s office declined to comment.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/cathie-black-is-out-as-chancellor/

[joeybee12]

Well, a typical school day is exactly like getting a magazine to press...

so she was a natural fit.

[Angry Dragon]

1. But she was the best he could find.......

[Graybeard]

2. ...in the elevator of their posh apt. bldg.

Supposedly Bloomy knew her from casual meetings in their elevator. Makes the vetting of Sarah Palin look thorough.

[smirkymonkey]

3. I'm amazed he actually showed some humility and gave in.

It was such a stupid idea in the first place, it was bound to fail.