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Less than three years after taking the helm of New York City鈥檚 school system, Chancellor David Banks is planning to retire at the end of the year amid widening probes of City Hall.

Banks鈥� stunning Tuesday announcement comes nearly three weeks after federal agents visited his home the day before school started and seized his phones as part of a broader investigation into members of Mayor Eric Adams鈥� inner circle. Investigators also confiscated phones from Banks鈥� partner, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and his two brothers, Phil Banks, deputy mayor for public safety, and Terence Banks, a consultant and former MTA staffer.

Investigators are who sought contracts with the city.

The announcement from the 62-year-old schools chief concludes a that stretched from being a school safety agent to helping launch a network of public schools geared toward young men of color. Tapped by Adams, who said he never seriously considered other candidates to helm the nation鈥檚 largest school district, Banks promised sweeping change to a system he described as

In his time in office, Banks focused more narrowly on two goals: instruction and .

鈥淥n behalf of all New Yorkers, we thank Chancellor Banks for his service, and wish him well in his retirement at the end of the calendar year,鈥� Adams said in a statement Tuesday.

In a Tuesday letter informing Adams of his plan to retire, Banks said he would do 鈥渆verything possible to ensure a smooth transition.鈥�

鈥淪erving as Chancellor has been a profound honor and a deeply fulfilling experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am confident that NYC Public Schools will continue to grow, innovate and excel under the next Chancellor.鈥�

Banks did not acknowledge the federal investigations in his letter, and he said his intent to retire by Dec. 31 predated the start of the school year.

The announcement comes on the heels of a series of resignations of high-profile figures in the Adams administration, including , who stepped down earlier this month, and , who plans to resign at the end of the year.

As members of his administration have left City Hall, Adams has faced pressure from some to step down. Critics were quick to use the school chancellor鈥檚 announcement as .

Banks鈥� tenure has been filled with a host of challenges: prioritizing what programs to save amid fiscal pressures of , figuring out how to , and responding to the ways in which are remaking the learning experience.

For much of last school year, the Israel-Hamas war has between students, teachers, and , thrusting Banks into the spotlight when he testified before Congress in May, .

鈥淭his is a chancellor 鈥� who is authentic, who lives his life with integrity,鈥� Banks said during a Sept. 13 press conference in response to questions about the federal investigations. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only way that I know how to be.鈥�

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools

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