Educator

I wouldn't be educating children if I did not believe in human potential.

I love working with teachers and principals; they are my heroes. They are very dedicated to children, and it's very impactful.

Whatever you think rigor looks like, you should go up a few notches.

As I explained when I announced that I was turning down a potential opportunity to serve as Secretary of Education, I voted for Hillary Clinton and was sorely disappointed she didn't win.

Schools can ebb and flow. It can be phenomenal one day, and then you hit fractions, and it falls apart.

Like so many of you, I am deeply distressed both by the hateful violence in Charlottesville and by President Trump's refusal to clearly denounce it. Nobody with any empathy for the plight of people of color in this country could respond the way he did.

I have always been very open about my respect for public service.

No matter how good a teacher is, if that teacher won't play as part of the team, you're better off without her.

In New York City, the idea that district schools advance equality is a myth.

Self-delusion is rarely a good strategy for effective management.

Attacking school segregation requires all hands on deck. We in the charter sector must move beyond our traditional comfort zone, serving disadvantaged students, and meet the demands of parents who have other high quality options.

I didn't design schools for poor kids. I'm designing schools to be world-class.

I thought I was leaving elected office and politics in order to focus on schooling, but as you know, schooling turns out to be frankly even more political than politics.

I am from an F.D.R. liberal-Democratic family. With proximity to government, I have become more libertarian.

I'm very, very focused on not only creating world class schools at scale, but changing the public policy in this country that every day prevents children from getting access to the American dream.

Part of me would love to be mayor for the simple reason that I love my city.

Any elected official who asks to visit my schools is welcome to do so; there is no political litmus test.

If the day ever comes when I think something is okay simply because district schools do it, I hope my board fires me.

Rule number one of journalism is that trying to get in between a journalist and a story he wants to tell is like trying to stop a herd of stampeding cattle.

If student A 'impacts' student B with a fist, they shouldn't 'dialogue as equals.' Student A should be disciplined. When you assault your co-worker or curse out your boss, you don't get a 'restorative circle' - you get fired.