BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF MARTINE GUERRIER AS NEW CHIEF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER AT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“I commend Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein for creating a dedicated leadership position within the Department of Education to represent parents’ voices at the local, district, and central level.

No one cares more about improving education than New York City parents, and no one knows better what’s right for our children — it’s that simple. Our parents, students, and educators couldn’t have a more powerful, capable advocate in the new position of Chief Family Engagement Officer than Brooklyn’s own Martine Guerrier, who I’m absolutely positive will do New York proud as an independent, outspoken voice on education issues, which are so critical to our city both today and for the future.

In the years I have known Martine, she has not only exhibited empathy for the challenges any parent of any background faces when navigating our school system, but she has also been an intensely creative and pro-active problem-solver. With her experience as a parent of a public school student, working in our city’s school system, advocating for policy changes in the halls of our state capitol, and certainly in her work as my appointee to the Panel for Educational Policy, Martine has shown that you can be a ‘can-do person’ without being a ‘yes-person.’

When it’s for the good of New York City, we don’t mind exporting a little ‘Brooklyn Attitude’ across the river to the outer boroughs. Martine has been one of the bright lights in Brooklyn’s education universe, and now it’s time for her to shine for all of New York City.”

—Borough President Marty Markowitz