News & Events

The Niemeyer Series

The Niemeyer Series comprises lectures and symposia focused on urgent matters of educational interest. The Series is dedicated to the memory of John H. Niemeyer for his leadership in helping Bank Street College of Education become a national voice for children beyond practice and into policy.

The Niemeyer Series 2025

“Shaping the Future of Public Education in NYC: A Conversation with New York City Public Schools”
Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 PM
Tabas Auditorium, Bank Street College

Speakers:
Melissa Avilés-Ramos, Chancellor, NYCPS
Simone Hawkins, Deputy Chancellor, NYCPS
Shael Polakow-Suransky, GSE ’00, President, Bank Street College
Tracy Fray-Oliver, Vice President, Bank Street Education Center (Moderator)

Schedule of Events:
5:00 PM: Doors Open
5:30 PM: Conversation followed by Q&A
6:45 PM: Reception

Register

John H. NiemeyerAbout John H. Niemeyer

John H. Niemeyer served as Bank Street’s second president (1956–1973) and transformed the College in many ways, beginning with its move from 69 Bank Street in Greenwich Village to West 112th Street. He led the College’s evolution into a widely known institution that worked with and acted as a prime resource for schools, educators, and policy makers. In addition to his work within the College, Niemeyer was an active and influential member of the progressive education community, serving as a consultant to the United States Office of Education regarding desegregation and the formation of Head Start.

Melissa Avilés Ramos

Melissa Avilés-Ramos

2025 Guest Speaker
Melissa Avilés-Ramos is the Chancellor of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), the largest school system in the nation. She previously served as Deputy Chancellor of Family and Community Engagement and External Affairs and as Chief of Staff to former Chancellor David C. Banks. In these roles, she led major initiatives like NYC Literacy Hubs, the Family Literacy Ambassadors program, and Project Open Arms, welcoming over 45,000 new students to NYCPS. A former English teacher, principal, and superintendent in the Bronx, Chancellor Avilés-Ramos is committed to strengthening reading, math, and career preparation for all students, while prioritizing safety, teacher development, and family partnerships. A proud New Yorker, Latina, and NYCPS parent, she holds degrees from Fordham University, the City College of New York, and the College of Saint Rose.
Simone C. Hawkins

Simone C. Hawkins

2025 Guest Speaker
Simone C. Hawkins is the Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood Education for New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), overseeing birth-to-5 programs, including 3K, Pre-K, and the early literacy work of NYC Reads. She brings extensive leadership experience from roles at NYCPS and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she served as Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Commissioner for Health Equity and Community Wellness. Hawkins has also led operational and financial strategy at organizations including Covenant House, The Children’s Aid Society, and the NYC Office of Management and Budget, where she managed a $6 billion education portfolio. Throughout her career, she has focused on advancing equity, quality education, and community wellness for New York City’s youngest learners.

Past Speakers

  • 2024

    More than Cookies and Crayons: Head Start and the Mississippi Black Freedom Struggle
    Featuring Crystal R. Sanders

  • 2021

    Cultivating Genius and Joy in Education through Culturally and Historically Responsive Pedagogies
    Featuring Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

  • 2019

    Segregated Pedagogy; Segregated Schools: The Role of Progressive Education in the Drive for More Culturally Responsive Schools
    Featuring Dr. Amy Stuart Wells

  • 2018

    On a Curriculum of Human Being: Learning Love, Freedom, and Troublemaking From and With Children
    Featuring Carla Shalaby

  • 2017

    These Schools Belong to You & Me: Why We Can’t Afford to Abandon our Public Schools
    Featuring Deborah Meier and Emily Gasoi

    Progressive Pedagogies and Public Policy: Reasserting Bank Street’s Research Presence in Debates about How Best to Use Early Childhood Education to Address Inequities
    Featuring Dr. Sharon Ryan

  • 2016

    Stereotype Threat: How It Affects Us and What We Can Do About It
    Featuring Dr. Claude M. Steele

  • 2015

    Progressive Practice in Public Settings
    Featuring Deborah Meier

  • 2014

    Universal Pre-K in New York City: Quality & Equity in the Face of Rapid Expansion
    Moderated by Dr. Samuel J. Meisels
    Panelists: Richard Buery, Regina Gallagher, GSE ’08, and Josh Wallack

  • 2013

    The Death and Life of the Great American School System: What New York’s Next Mayor Needs to Know
    Featuring Diane Ravitch

  • 2012

    Alternatives to School Closings
    Featuring Christine Quinn

  • 2011

    Teacher Performance: Highly Effective, Effective, Developing, Ineffective
    Moderated by Jon Snyder
    Panelists Shael Polakow-Suransky, GSE ’00, Margaret Ryan, Barnett Berry, and Frederick Frelow

  • 2010

    Race, Class, and Reform: A Panel Discussion About Education Reform in America
    Moderated by Jon Snyder
    Panelists: Irving S. Hamer, Jr., Peter L. McFarlane, Michael Nettles, Jeannie Oakes, and David Sciarra

  • 2009

    School Reform: Where have we been and where should we be going? Some lessons for a new American President
    Moderated by Deborah Meier
    Panelists: Thomas Payzant, Linda Darling-Hammond, and Louis Delgado, SFC ’78