Should socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani clinch the New York City mayoralty this November, he may appoint one of the city’s most polarizing figures to helm its public education system: Jamaal Bowman. A former congressman, middle school principal, and founding figure of a self-described “radical” educational institution in the Bronx, Bowman is reportedly on the shortlist to become Chancellor of NYC Schools, the nation’s largest district.But Bowman’s track record is anything but conventional, marred by legal violations, incendiary rhetoric, and questionable professional judgment. His supporters view him as an anti-establishment visionary; critics see an ideologue unfit to lead a system responsible for the futures of nearly a million students.
An educator with a defunct license
Before his stint in Congress from 2021 to 2025, Bowman founded the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action (CASA), a Bronx middle school infused with a social justice ethos. Yet, during his time as principal, Bowman allowed his School Building Leader certification, legally required for any public school principal in New York, to lapse for nearly two years. State records confirm his license expired in early 2014 and was not reinstated until the end of 2015. For that period, he led a public school in open violation of state education law.Requests for comment on the lapse have gone unanswered.
Academic outcomes and ideological overreach
Bowman’s tenure at CASA was emblematic of his penchant for educational experimentation, often untethered from measurable success. By 2019, a decade into his leadership, just 26% of CASA students were proficient in English, and only 30% met math standards. Rather than confronting these sobering figures, Bowman publicly likened standardized testing to “modern-day slavery,” placing assessments alongside the legacies of Jim Crow and redlining.Such rhetoric typified his tenure: sweeping condemnations of systemic oppression often substituted for tangible academic improvement. In one particularly contentious project, Bowman oversaw the installation of a “Wall of Honor” featuring convicted cop killers Assata Shakur and Mutulu Shakur, figures he called “tremendous.”
Political pyrotechnics
Bowman’s controversies didn’t end when he entered Congress. In 2023, he drew national attention, and bipartisan censure for falsely pulling a fire alarm during a crucial House vote, disrupting proceedings. He initially claimed it was accidental, then later admitted to deliberately triggering the alarm. He was fined and forced to issue a public apology to first responders.Further compounding his reputation, reports surfaced alleging that Bowman had plagiarized sections of his Ed.D. dissertation, a claim he has not formally denied.
Polarizing views on Israel
A consistent theme in Bowman’s political career has been his confrontational stance toward Israel. He has defended the controversial slogan “From the river to the sea” and was forced to apologize for remarks that downplayed atrocities committed during Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians. His association with radical anti-Israel figures and refusal to denounce antisemitic iconography, including a mural featuring Louis Farrakhan, have provoked strong reactions from Jewish organizations nationwide.
The Mamdani factor
Mamdani himself is no stranger to controversy. A vocal supporter of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, the mayoral hopeful has made incendiary statements about Israel, at one point calling it “not a country” and refusing to disavow the phrase “Globalize the intifada.” Bowman, a close political ally, has publicly endorsed Mamdani, referring to him as “my brother” and expressing full support for his campaign.Should Mamdani win, analysts believe Bowman’s appointment as chancellor would be all but assured, a move certain to ignite intense political debate in a city already wrestling with educational disparities, declining performance, and cultural polarization.
A test of vision vs. competence
In a system desperate for capable leadership and measurable results, Bowman’s candidacy for schools chancellor may serve as a referendum on what kind of future New Yorkers envision for public education: one led by ideological conviction, or one grounded in results-driven leadership. For now, Bowman remains a man between two roles — radical reformer or reckless provocateur — with the city’s children potentially caught in the balance.
