Failing upward: School officials who ran the bad NYC public school Nikole Hannah-Jones described get promoted

Monica Showalter discusses the issue of promotion within the New York City public school system, particularly focusing on the alarming trend of ineffective school officials, like Kamar Samuels and Stephanie Carroll, being rewarded with promotions despite their poor performance.

1. Nikole Hannah-Jones' Experience: Nikole Hannah-Jones shared her experiences with NYC's public schools in a New York Times essay, highlighting her daughter's poor educational experience due to unqualified teachers and chaotic conditions.

2. Systematic Failures: The article suggests that educators in the NYC public school system often fail to meet basic responsibilities, such as showing up or teaching, yet still receive promotions. This reflects a culture of "failing upward" within the school administration.

3. Incompetent Leadership: Kamar Samuels, the District 13 superintendent who oversaw declining schools, was promoted to Chancellor of New York City's public schools. Carroll, once the principal at PS 307 where Hannah-Jones's daughter attended, is now the chief of literacy despite her record of ineffectiveness.

4. Lack of Accountability: The piece criticizes the lack of accountability within the system. Teachers and administrators avoid repercussions for their actions, instead acting according to political interests, which ultimately negatively affects students.

5. Response to Concerns: Hannah-Jones attempted to address poor conditions at her daughter's school but faced delays and insufficient responses from the school administration, indicating a disregard for parental concerns and student welfare.

6. Promotion over Performance: Instead of being held accountable for their failures, leaders like Samuels and Carroll are suggested to be more focused on maintaining political connections than on improving student outcomes, reinforcing a problematic hierarchy in educational management.

The article highlights the troubling dynamics within the New York City public school system, where ineffective leadership is often rewarded with promotions, perpetuating a cycle of educational failure. The situation emphasizes the need for accountability and genuine improvement in school management practices for the benefit of students. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/failing-upward-school-officials-who-ran-the-bad-nyc-public-school-nikole-hannah-jones-described-get-promoted/