She remains steadfast in her support of the soon-to-be New York City schools superintendent, Mayor Eric Adams, after he was indicted on Thursday on a five-count indictment.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos is expected to take over the reins of the nation's largest school system from David Banks at the end of the calendar year.
Banks, a top Education Department official, abruptly resigned this week amid a widening federal investigation into the Adams administration, but insisted the move had been in the works for months.
The university president, who was himself caught up in the stunning Sept. 4 federal attack earlier this month, has remained silent since the shocking 57-page indictment against Adams was released.
But his successor said: chalk beat She said she has not lost support for Adams and shares his and Banks' vision for Big Apple schools.
“That's why I agreed to become prime minister,” she told the publication.
“My North Star is also their North Star, but I have to make sure the train keeps moving.”
Although Adams dominated Thursday's news cycle, Aviles-Ramos said he will stick to the job at hand.
“This will ensure that children and families have everything they need,” she added.
In her first interview since taking on the role, she also gave clarity on who will be leading decision-making in New York City schools over the next three months.
“It will happen.” [Banks] And me too. We have worked very closely together over the last few years. And one of the characteristics of a prime minister is that he makes decisions together with his cabinet,” she said.
“So this is not new to them. It's certainly not new to me and I'm actually looking forward to the next three months.”
Dating back to 2014, Adams is accused of secretly soliciting and accepting freebies and illegal campaign contributions from wealthy foreigners, including Turkish officials.
Just hours after the indictment was unsealed, Adams reassured his staff in a letter that “I have done nothing wrong.”
Hizzoner also said New York City is “in a much better place” today than it was two and a half years ago when former Mayor Bill de Blasio (who now champions the mayor's right to justice) was at the helm. I reminded the staff.
It is unclear how long Aviles-Ramos will be in charge of NYCPS if Adams resigns, and will be replaced by elected official Jumaane Williams.
But until then, the new prime minister said he has “confidence” in the current government.
