Former Coney Island Councilmember Mark Treyger, who just recently finished up his last term in legislature on Dec. 31, has been appointed to serve as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for NYC Schools.
The two-term legislator, who represented Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend, and Sea Gate, has been involved in the city’s public school system for years; he served as chair of the City Council’s Education Committee, prior to which he worked as a teacher at New Utrecht High School in Bensonhurst for eight years. His mix of political and in-school experience made him a good fit for the job, Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement to Brooklyn Paper.
“Mark Treyger is one of our city’s greatest champions for public education. As a history teacher, UFT delegate, and chair of the City Council’s Committee on Education, he has fought tirelessly for our students, teachers, and families,” Adams said. “Mark is a valued addition to Chancellor Banks’ team at DOE, and New Yorkers will benefit from his continued public service.”
An outpouring of support on social media came in from his former district and beyond upon hearing the news, which was confirmed to Brooklyn Paper by a press representative from the city’s Department of Education.
“My friend @MarkTreyger718 is one of the finest public servants I know,” tweeted Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres. “The City of New York and the Department of Education will be well served by his deeply felt devotion to public education.”
My friend @MarkTreyger718 is one of the finest public servants I know. The City of New York and the Department of Education will be well served by his deeply felt devotion to public education. https://t.co/OYjTH02WsC
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) January 19, 2022
Many speculated whether the former lawmaker would be selected for an education post in the new Adams administration. Some even suspected he would go on to become the new schools chancellor, but the mayor instead appointed David Banks — the founder of all-boys charter school Eagle Academy, and the brother of recently-appointed Deputy Mayor of New York City for Public Safety Phillip Banks, who Adams hired despite previous ethics concerns.
The former Brooklyn borough president’s appointments have come under scrutiny, with some alleging nepotism after Adams named his brother, Bernard Adams, deputy police commissioner, before later slashing his duties and title to “executive director of mayoral security.”
Treyger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
