City schools chief David Banks has ousted the education deputy in charge of his pet reading push — just months after she allegedly complained about getting paid less than her male counterparts, The Post has learned.
Chancellor Banks sent an email to city school superintendents Monday morning informing them that Carolyne Quintana, deputy chancellor for teaching and learning, is out in what amounts to a major leadership shake-up — with him claiming she “graciously agreed” to stay till the end of the school year to “support the transition.”
But a well-placed source told The Post that Quintana got the boot and was then “warned to keep quiet” about the move.
She doesn’t have another job but will remain on the payroll until the end of the school year, though stripped of her responsibilities, the source said.
“First Chancellor Dan Weisberg gave her an ultimatum: If she keeps quiet about this, she’ll be leaving with good relationships. If this becomes a big problem, then it’s going to be a different situation,” the source said.
Her sacking is likely linked to internal turmoil involving pay discrepancies — which she allegedly complained about in the fall, saying Banks’ former deputy chancellor for leadership, Desmond Blackburn, was earning $265,000 a year, a source told The Post at the time.
Quintana, who was leading Banks’ top initiative — to improve how kids are taught reading — and two other female deputy Department of Education chancellors had been earning $241,000.
“Weisberg wanted her gone after she complained to him that she, as a female deputy chancellor, was not paid as much as her male counterpart at the time,” the first source said Monday.
“She spoke up. She challenged him. She was speaking up for herself and other female deputy chancellors who were not paid as much as male deputy chancellors.
“She never got her pay increase. Instead, she was shown the door.”
Just a year into the gig, Blackburn quit and was replaced by Danika Rux.
Rux is now expected to assume Quintana’s responsibilities as the DOE ramps up work for its NYC Reads initiative, Banks’ email said.
A chief of School Support, Miatheresa Pate, will lead “Teaching and Learning” as interim executive chief, the chancellor said.
“We are moving forward with dissolving the Division of Teaching & Learning and integrating its work into the Division of School Leadership under the leadership of Deputy Chancellor Dr. Danika Rux,” Banks’ email reads.
“I believe that putting the tremendous central Teaching & Learning resources closer to our schools – led by local superintendents – will accelerate the work of NYC Reads, improve math education, and set up our students for bright starts and bold futures.”
NYC Reads requires city schools to choose between three sets of approved curriculums that focus on reading education for elementary students.
The three curriculums are aligned with longstanding research about how children learn to read, often referred to as the science of reading, the DOE says.
Separately, the city has required schools to use an approved phonics program along with the three reading programs.
“I think this tells you that his reading initiative is in a shambles,” the insider said of Quintana’s abrupt departure.
Banks’ announcement sent shockwaves across the school system.
“Of all the appointments made by Banks, Quintana was by far the strongest,” a Queens teacher told the Post anonymously Monday.
“This is a huge loss for the administration and her work in STEM for the students of NYC.
“She’s literally the only one with a brain.”
When pressed by the Post the DOE did not confirm or deny allegations that Quintana had been pushed out, instead pointing to Banks’ comments in the email.
Quintana did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment. But she released a statement through the DOE thanking the administration for the opportunity to “lead historic work” that put literacy front and center.
“As a lifelong educator, I know that the work that our team did over the past two years will reverberate into the future and benefit generations of students,” she said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the dedicated team of the Division of Teaching & Learning for their tireless work to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of students daily.
“It was an honor to lead you, and I will always be your ally in fighting for educational equity. I look forward to supporting this transition.”
