Dennis Walcott

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Dennis M. Walcott (born September 7, 1951) was the

Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education.
He succeeded Cathie Black, who resigned in April 2011 after

Dennis M. Walcott

only three months on the job.[1] He was succeeded as

chancellor by Carmen Faria.[2]
Although Walcott lacks training as a schools administrator[3],
he served nine years as New York City Deputy Mayor for
Education and was a member of the NYC Board of
Education. He required a waiver from the New York State
Education Department under Education Commissioner David
M. Steiner. Walcott is a former employee at Amistad Day

New York City Schools Chancellor

Care Center[4][5] and holds a master's degrees in the

education field.

In office
April 17, 2011 December 31, 2013

Walcott at the YMA Finals party

Prior to joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002 as

Deputy Mayor for Education, he headed the New York

Appointed by Michael Bloomberg

chapter of the Urban League.[3][6]

Succeeded by Carmen Faria

Preceded by Cathie Black

Deputy Mayor of New York City for Education

In office
January 2002 April 17, 2011

Contents
Mayor

1 Early life and education

2 Public service work
3 Personal life
4 References

Early life and education

Michael Bloomberg
Personal details

Born

September 7, 1951
Queens, New York

Nationality

United States

Spouse(s)

Denise St. Hill

Alma mater

University of Bridgeport (B.Ed.,

M.Ed.)

Fordham University (MSW)

Walcott is the son of immigrants from Barbados, and also St. Croix of the United States Virgin Islands.[3][7] He
is a native of Queens, New York. He attended Francis Lewis High School, and earned a bachelor's degree in
1973 and a master's degree in 1974 from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. He earned a Master's in
Social Work from Fordham University in 1980.[8]

His early employment was in counseling.[6] In 1974 he began a one and a half year tenure at the privately run
pre-kindergarten Amistad Child Care and Family Center in South Jamaica, Queens.[9]

Public service work

In 1975, Walcott founded the Frederick Douglass Brother-to-Brother mentoring program. He went on to become
President and Chief Executive of the New York Urban League for 12 years, where he expanded educational and
youth service programs. He also served as Executive Director of the Harlem Dowling Westside Center,
expanding services to children and families in need. In 1993 Mayor David Dinkins appointed him to the
predecessor agency to the Department of Education, the New York City Board of Education. His term extended
into the mayoral term of previous mayor Rudy Giuliani.[3] He also taught as an adjunct professor of Social
Work at York College, and was a talk show radio host on community issues. [10]

Personal life
Walcott and his wife Denise have four children and two grandchildren, who have attended New York City
Public Schools.

References
1. "Walcott on New York Times". Last updated: April 7, 2011. New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
2. http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/leadership/leadershipteam/default.htm
3. Daniel Massey, "Meet the new guy: Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott", "Crain's New York Business," April 7, 2011
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110407/FREE/110409898
4. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/downloads/pdf/news-press-coverage-seqp-20070116.pdf
5. Amistad Day Care Center - Jamaica, New York - NY - School overview (http://www.greatschools.org/newyork/jamaica/preschools/Amistad-Day-Care-Center/10981/). Greatschools.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
6. New York City Department of Education website, February 2009, "Q+A with Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott"
http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/SchoolNews/CitySchools/Issues/022009/walcott.htm
7. Springer, Bevan (5 August 2010). "Mayor Bloomberg to host West Indians at Gracie Mansion". Caribbean360.
Retrieved 8 April 2011.
8. NYC.gov (http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.047d873163b300bc6c4451f401c789a0/index.jsp?
pageID=nyc_photo_slide&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2Fbios
%2Fbio_om_dm_policy.html). NYC.gov. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
9. Dennis Walcott Waiver Letter (http://www.scribd.com/doc/52585856/Dennis-Walcott-Waiver-Letter). Scribd.com (201307-22). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
10. "Dennis M. Walcott". Office of the Mayor. nyc.gov. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

Educational offices
Preceded by
Cathie Black

New York City

Schools Chancellor
April 17, 2011-December 31, 2013

Succeeded by
Carmen Faria

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennis_Walcott&oldid=691730066"

Categories: 1952 births American people of Barbadian descent Fordham University alumni Living people

New York City School Chancellors People from Queens, New York University of Bridgeport alumni
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