Help Choose Crown, Prospect Heights' Superintendents At Town Hall

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Crown Heights' school districts could get new superintendents this year — and parents will get the chance to help choose the new leaders.

The city's education department has set up virtual Town Hall meetings across the five boroughs — including one in Crown Heights this week — as it prepares a hiring blitz for all 45 of the city's superintendent roles.

The hiring process will include both new candidates and existing superintendents, who were asked to reapply for their jobs as Schools Chancellor David Banks plans to expand the responsibilities of the position for the next school year.

“These town halls represent a historic chance for our parents to engage directly with candidates for superintendent and inform who will be part of the group of leaders tasked with making this vision a reality," Banks said this week.

In Crown Heights, the Town Hall for District 17, which covers most of the neighborhood, will kick off on Thursday.

The district has been led since the start of 2021 by Shenean Lindsay, who previously worked as a Brooklyn deputy superintendent, a leader of principals in the Bronx and a principal in Brownsville, according to her LinkedIn page.

In Prospect Heights, a town hall for District 13 will be held next Friday.

District 13 covers Prospect Heightsas well as Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights and part of Bed-Stuy. It has been led by Superintendent Kamar Samuels since at least the start of 2020.

A Town Hall meeting is also set up for District 16, which covers Bed-Stuy and a small portion of Crown Heights. That meeting will be held May 31.

District 16 has been led by Superintendent Yolanda Martin, who previously served as deputy superintendent of the district, since 2019.

Click here to register for the meeting in your district.

The Town Hall meetings come after uproar from families and officials after some superintendents seemed to be ousted without community input. The Department of Education released the schedule of the public meetings on Monday.