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| Howard Friedman |
When New York City’s education department responds to a lawsuit
challenging its handling of school violence, there will be a new name on the
legal papers.
Howard Friedman, who has
worked for the city’s law department for nearly two decades, will become the
Department of Education’s general counsel next month. Chancellor Carmen Fariña
announced the appointment in a statement that heralded Friedman’s “dedication,
passion, and innovative thinking.
The top legal slot had
been open since Courtenaye Jackson-Chase left for the Children’s Aid Society in
February after a
decade at the department. With her predecessor, Jackson-Chase tackled
efforts to close the “rubber room” for teachers who were removed from the
classroom after being accused of misconduct and to streamline disciplinary
hearings for department employees. As those issues dropped from the
department’s public priorities under the de Blasio administration,
Jackson-Chase reviewed the department’s Respect for All anti-bullying policy.
Friedman arrives as the
department faces a full slate of legal issues. They include how toallow schools to bend city rules to
promote racial integration and to how to respond to the school safety lawsuit, which
critics of the de Blasio administration filed this spring.
Here’s the city’s
complete press release about Friedman’s appointment:
CHANCELLOR
FARIÑA ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF HOWARD FRIEDMAN AS GENERAL COUNSEL
NEW
YORK – Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced the appointment of Howard
Friedman as General Counsel. In his new role, Friedman will serve as the chief
legal advisor for the DOE, where he will focus on the development and
implementation of new initiatives and the revision of existing education
policy. Friedman will also provide counsel to the Chancellor on the legal
aspects of policy and administrative matters.
Prior
to joining the DOE, Friedman served as the Chief of the Contracts and Real
Estate Division of the New York City Law Department, where he counseled City
agencies and the Mayor’s Office on transactional matters and special projects.
Friedman joined the Contracts and Real Estate Division in 1998, became Deputy
Chief of the Division in 2004, and was promoted to Chief last year.
“Howard
has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving our city and we are very
excited to have someone with his talent and experience join our team,” said
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “I know that Howard will continue to bring an
extraordinary level of dedication, passion and innovative thinking to his new
role serving our city’s 1.1 million students, families and school staff.”
“It
is an honor to join the Department of Education and to be a part of the
incredible work it’s doing on behalf of our city’s families,” said Howard
Friedman. “I’ve had the privilege of serving the City of New York and its
residents for the past 20 years, and I look forward to helping this department
build on the progress it has made delivering a high-quality education to every
student.”
“The
qualities that make Howard eminently qualified to lead the legal division of
the City’s largest operation are the qualities we will miss most at the Law
Department – his incomparable knowledge of the law, his ability to solve
practical problems, and his steadiness under pressure,” said Corporation
Counsel Zachary W. Carter.
“From
his time as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, to his nearly two
decades with the New York City Law Department, Howard has proven himself a
tough and dedicated public servant,” said Ursulina Ramirez, Chief Operating
Officer for the Department of Education. “We are very fortunate to have him
join the department, where I know he will become a champion for our city’s public
school students and families.”
Prior
to joining the New York City Law Department, Friedman worked, among other
things, as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society, where he first worked in
the Criminal Appeals Bureau, and then in the Civil Division serving the Harlem
neighborhood. He is a 1985 cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. Friedman
will join the DOE on July 5.