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| Queens South High School Superintendent Josephine Van Ess, at center, with fellow DOE execs and administrators at the conference this week in San Diego. |
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At least eight Department of Education administrators went to San Diego for a three-day conference crawling with ed-tech vendors and startups..
Despite a mandate by Mayor Zohran Mamdani to cut expenses, a group of NYC school administrators went to San Diego this week for an ed-tech conference with other educators and vendors galore.
The DOE would not not say how many people it sent to the ASU+GSV Summit April 12 to 15 while classes in city schools resumed after more than a weeklong spring break.
At least seven administrators are identified in a photo posted on Instagram by Queens South HS Superintendent Josephine Van Ess.
Besides Van Ess, the photo shows Chief Academic Officer Miatheresa Pate, Chief of the Office of Student Pathways Jane Martinez Dowling, two Queens high school principals and two assistant principals.
The summit, which spotlights artificial intelligence and digital platforms, is organized and co-hosted by Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV) – a venture/investment firm focused on education and technology.
Reps for tech companies and start-ups seeking to cash in on the lucrative education market show up in droves to meet college and school system leaders looking for new tools.
“Conferences like this are heavily attended by vendors seeking access to decision-makers,” a skeptical DOE teachers said. “That raises real concerns about influence, especially when we don’t see a clear connection to student achievement back in the classroom.”
The cost of attendee registration ranged from $2,450 to $3,850 per person, depending on when they signed up. Rooms at the Manchester Grand Hyatt overlooking the San Diego Harbor go for $393 to $510 a night.
How much budget money the DOE spent on the conference, including fees, travel, hotel and food, is yet unclear.
“Most trips were paid entirely with non-NYCPS funds or combined non-NYCPS funds with employees’ personal money. Some trips were paid for through NYCPS funds combined with personal money,” the agency said in response to questions.
Ed-tech vendors seeking to do business with NYC schools likely sponsored some of the cost, raising possible conflicts of interest.
“Trips were approved following proper protocols, including through the Ethics Office when applicable,” the DOE said.
Spokeswoman Isla Gething defended the expense, which included the staffers’ salaries.
“Attending conferences is a routine part of staying engaged with emerging trends, innovations, and research. ASU + GSV provides opportunities to engage with other leaders in education and bring back ideas that can drive meaningful impact in our classrooms.”
Moses Ojeda, the principal of Thomas Edison CTE High School, and two of his assistant principals, joined the travelers, along with Asya Johnson, principal of the fledgling HBCU Early College Prep HS.
Another superintendent who declined to be named also attended.
The cross-country jaunt comes amid Mayor Mamdani’s citywide directive to tighten belts in the face of a multibillion dollar deficit.
On Wednesday, Michael Cheatham, the DOE’s deputy chancellor for finance – and the department’s “Chief Savings Officer” – ordered a halt on OTPS (other than personnel services”) spending at headquarters.
“All trips were approved prior to the April 15 change,” the DOE said.
