Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC early childhood chief Simone Hawkins to leave Education Department
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Aug 2, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
New York City Public Schools Press Office
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Aug 2, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City Public Schools Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins is stepping down in September, she and other city officials confirmed Sunday.
Hawkins oversaw the Division of Early Childhood Education for the past two years, leading the city's programs for children from birth to age 5, including 3-K, pre-K and the rollout of the city's new 2-K program set to launch this fall.
"I am deeply proud of all that my team and I have accomplished in service of our youngest New Yorkers," Hawkins said in a statement. "Over the past two years as Deputy Chancellor, we've improved practice, launched 2-K, a historic program that will deliver affordable child care for New York City families, and opened schools that for too long have sat vacant."
Hawkins was appointed deputy chancellor in 2024 under former Mayor Eric Adams' administration. Chancellor Kamar Samuels thanked Hawkins for her "tremendous efforts" expanding early childhood programs and addressing long-running payment bottlenecks for providers.
During Hawkins' tenure, childcare providers continued to raise concerns about delayed city payments, an issue city officials said they were working to address.
Hawkins leaves as the city prepares to open the first 2,000 seats in its new universal 2-K program this fall.
City officials did not say why she is leaving or who will replace her.
City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz from the Bronx praised Hawkins' work after the announcement of her departure.
"Simone is incredibly talented, and her departure is a loss to our system," he wrote on X Saturday. "I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors."
Tagged
brooklyn
manhattan
public safety
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .