From Old Hope Road to Chambers Street: A Jamaica College Old Boy Called to Lead America’s Largest School System
- Admin
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
From Old Hope Road to Chambers Street: A Jamaica College Old Boy Called to Lead America’s Largest School System
The Jamaica College Old Boys Association of New York (JCOBA-NY) proudly joins educators, parents, and communities across the city in congratulating Kamar Samuels (JC Class of ’93) on his appointment as New York City Schools Chancellor, arguably the most visible and consequential education leadership role in the United States.
For many in our JCOBA-NY family, this moment feels both historic and deeply personal. Kamar has long been a familiar and steady presence within our ranks, not only as an active member, but also as a former Director of JCOBA-NY. If you’ve shown up at our events over the years, you’ve likely crossed paths with him; quietly supportive, consistently engaged, and always committed to anything that advances Jamaica College. He has never sought the spotlight. He prefers the work.
That temperament matters. The Chancellor’s role demands wisdom without bluster, conviction without noise, and the ability to lead through complexity with a steady hand. Those who know Kamar know that this is precisely how he operates—thoughtful, action-oriented, and grounded in purpose.
A Career Built From the Classroom Up
Kamar’s journey through New York City’s public education system spans more than two decades. He began as a classroom teacher in the Bronx, gaining firsthand experience with the daily realities students and educators face. From there, he rose through the ranks—serving as a principal, district leader in Brooklyn, and most recently as Superintendent of Manhattan’s District 3, which includes the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, and parts of Harlem.
Along the way, he became known for tackling some of the system’s hardest challenges: declining enrollment, school mergers, access to rigorous academic programs, and the persistent inequities that define urban education. His work promoting integration and equity—often through difficult, politically sensitive decisions—has earned both praise and scrutiny. But even critics acknowledge his ability to lead with principle and nuance.
His appointment by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani signals a serious, experience-driven approach to shaping the city’s education agenda at a moment of enormous pressure and change. With a system serving almost a million students, an annual budget exceeding $40 billion, and challenges ranging from student homelessness to federal funding uncertainty, the task ahead is immense.
Roots That Run Deep
Kamar’s story is also one of diaspora and continuity. Born in Jamaica and educated at Jamaica College, he carries with him the values instilled on the Old Hope Road campus: discipline, service, and a quiet confidence that speaks louder than words. Those values have never left him.
Beyond his public-sector career, Kamar has remained deeply connected to Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora through his leadership with JAMPACT (Jamaica Impact Inc.), where he served as a founder and past president. Under his stewardship, JAMPACT supported early childhood education, teacher development, and community initiatives across Jamaica—bridging New York-based professionals with on-the-ground needs back home. It was impact without fanfare, purpose without performance.
A Moment of Pride—and Prayer
For JCOBA-NY, Kamar’s appointment is a moment of collective pride. It affirms what we have always known: that Jamaica College continues to produce leaders equipped not just for prominence, but for responsibility. Leaders shaped to serve.
The role he now assumes will test every facet of leadership; moral clarity, administrative skill, political navigation, and human empathy. It will require courage, patience, and a resolute commitment to children who too often bear the weight of adult systems.
Reflecting on the significance of the moment, JCOBA-NY President Dwight Geddes noted, “Kamar’s appointment is a powerful reminder of what quiet excellence looks like. He leads with substance, not spectacle, and that matters now more than ever.” Geddes added, “For JCOBA-NY, this is both a point of pride and a call to continued service. Kamar represents the very best of what Jamaica College seeks to instill.”
Jamaica College Principal Wayne Robinson echoed those sentiments from the campus on Old Hope Road, saying, “Kamar Samuels embodies the values of Jamaica College—discipline, humility, and service. We are immensely proud of him and confident that he will lead with justice and wisdom.”
As one of our own steps onto this national stage, we offer not just congratulations, but prayers for strength and discernment in the work ahead. In the spirit of the Jamaica College school prayer, when he is called to obey, may he obey with willingness; when he is called to serve, may he serve with gladness; and when he is called to rule, may he rule with justice. May all ignorance and hardness of heart be driven far from him, and may he be guided by wisdom, anchored by principle, and sustained by the quiet resolve that has carried him this far.
From JC to City Hall’s doorstep, from the classroom to the Chancellor’s office, this is a calling worthy of reflection and respect.
Fervet.
About JCOBA-NY:
Founded 35 years ago, the Jamaica College Old Boys Association of New York fosters a strong network of Old Boys dedicated to supporting each other and giving back to Jamaica and Jamaica College. Through events, mentorship, and various initiatives, JCOBA-NY continues to strengthen bonds and uphold the legacy of excellence.www.jcobany.org