Disgraced former ‘Squad’ member Jamaal Bowman pushes AOC to get Mamdani to appoint him NYC schools chancellor

According to The New York Post, Bowman is “pushing hard” behind the scenes to secure the position from Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist whose victory has already rattled many city parents, especially Jewish families. A former “Squad” member in Congress, Bowman campaigned heavily for Mamdani. He has reportedly leaned on close ally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to lobby the incoming mayor for the chancellor job.

Bowman said Thursday night on a Zoom call with the NYC chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, “I’m an educator, lifelong educator. When we get universal child care y’all, it’s going to lead to a revolution in our public schools!”

He urged comrades to “continue building power,” adding that winning the election “gives us and Zohran the right to govern, but it doesn’t give us the power,” framing the election as only the beginning of a larger ideological push.

At the SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico, Bowman was spotted strolling with two United Federation of Teachers officials; the UFT, which endorsed Mamdani, is expected to have heavy influence over his education policy.

Bowman frequently invokes his background as a “lifelong educator,” pointing to his tenure as principal of the Bronx Cornerstone Academy for Social Action from 2009 to 2019. But state records reveal that his School Building Leader certificate, issued on Feb. 1, 2009, expired on Jan. 31, 2014, and he did not regain certification until Dec. 16, 2015.

For almost two years, Bowman ran a public school without a valid license, in violation of New York law. Additionally, Bowman’s own children reportedly attend an elite private school in Riverdale that charges between $57,000 and $62,000 per year in tuition, instead of New York City's public schools.

Bowman has been a prominent supporter of the opt-out movement, urging parents to keep their children from taking state exams and describing test refusal as “civil disobedience.” Opponents argue that this undermines accountability and makes it harder to measure student performance in a struggling system.

Bowman’s congressional record and past statements make his potential appointment even more controversial. He was formally censured by the House in 2023 after infamously pulling a fire alarm as lawmakers prepared to vote on a government funding bill, which was seen as a stunt to delay the vote.

He has also denied that Hamas raped Israeli women during the October 7 attacks, despite extensive survivor testimony and documentation. Additionally, he previously spread 9/11 conspiracy theories, suggesting Osama bin Laden was blamed for the attacks to justify the war in Afghanistan.

City University trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, reacting to the possibility of “Chancellor Bowman,” warned, “This is beyond evil, all New Yorkers have something to worry about here, but especially Jews.”

Bowman is one of at least five candidates for schools chancellor, including: Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the current schools chancellor and the city’s highest-paid employee at $414,799 a year. She wants to stay on and touts herself as a “New York City public school mom,” but critics note that despite modest test score gains, aided by lowered passing thresholds, two-thirds of city students remain not proficient in reading or math.

City Councilwoman Rita Joseph is a longtime teacher who now chairs the Council’s education committee, but lacks the required certifications and would need a waiver, and she drew fire for “regretfully abstaining” from a vote to designate April 29 as “End Jew Hatred Day,” raising concerns about her willingness to confront antisemitism.

Meisha Ross Porter is the first Black woman to serve as NYC schools chancellor under Bill de Blasio. Porter is backed by him for a return, but her record includes a $45,000 celebratory gala where subordinates paid to attend, hiring decisions openly framed around race and gender, and a push to eliminate the SHSAT, the exam for admission to the city’s elite specialized high schools.

Kamar Samuels was appointed superintendent of District 3 on the Upper West Side in 2022 amid talk of “innovation.” Samuels is described by insiders as a chronic delegator who avoids responsibility, “tells everyone whatever he thinks they want to hear,” and leaves staff to deal with the fallout when promises collapse.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is very far left politically, reportedly opposes Bowman’s appointment, arguing he lacks the experience needed for the role, and instead is pushing for Porter. New York City’s public schools are already facing plummeting student enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and low reading and math performance.

School placement consultant Christopher Rim told The New York Post that at least 23 clients have contacted him to move their children into private middle and high schools in other states following Mamdani’s win, with at least 3 of the calls coming “Within the first 30 minutes of AP announcing Mamdani’s victory.”