By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — State Education Commissioner David Steiner announced the members of the panel that will advise him on whether to grant Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott a waiver to become the next New York City schools chancellor.
The panel, whose role in only advisory, is set to meet in Albany on April 13 at 1 p.m.
Its members include State Department of Education officials, the provost of the State University of New York, several school district superintendents, and the dean of the School of Education at Brooklyn College.
Steiner convened another panel to assess Cathie Black's qualifications for the job just five months ago. That panel voted against granting Black the necessary waiver, but Steiner granted it anyway. Black resigned last week after just three months on the job.
In a letter requesting the new waiver dated April 7, Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised Walcott as "exceptionally qualified" and "a successor whose commitment to our children, understanding of our reforms, knowledge of the New York City Schools and desire to continue improving our schools are unsurpassed."
Walcott, who currently serves as the deputy mayor for Education and Community Development, began a long career in education as a kindergarten teacher and holds a master's degree in the field, but does not have the necessary credentials required by the state. Under state law, the New York City schools chancellor has to be certified as a superintendent or obtain a waiver from the state.
Bloomberg has said he is confident Walcott's waiver will be granted.
