Aníbal Soler Jr.

 

Aníbal Soler Jr. is the Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools in Yonkers, New York—the third-largest school district in the state. He assumed the role on May 1, 2024, after a unanimous selection by the Yonkers Board of Education.

Background and Career 

Soler, age 47 as of 2024, grew up in Rochester, New York. He began his career in education there as an art teacher and instructional technology teacher, later serving as both elementary and high school principal in the Rochester City School District.

His subsequent roles included:

• Associate Superintendent for strategic alignment and innovation in Buffalo Public Schools, where he focused on school improvement, equity, and opportunity initiatives.
  
  
• Superintendent of Batavia City Schools. 
  
  
• Superintendent of Schenectady City Schools (starting in 2021), where he managed budgets and advanced initiatives such as Community Schools and Early College High School programs.

He has over 25 years of experience in education and has served as an adjunct professor.

Soler earned a bachelor's degree in art education from Daemen College (now Daemen University) and is pursuing or anticipated an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville College.

He is also a member of the inaugural NY Superintendent Think Tank with the College Board.Leadership in Yonkers 

As superintendent, Soler has emphasized elevating the district, providing exceptional education for every student, and addressing challenges in urban education, including immigration-related issues and equity.

He has highlighted initiatives like welcoming families for the 2025–26 school year with a "new plan" for the future, advocating for increased state funding (including trips to Albany with Mayor Mike Spano to address budget gaps), and promoting college access through events like FAFSA completion drives in partnership with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. 

Soler maintains an active presence on platforms like LinkedIn and X (@AnibalSolerJr).
He shares updates on student achievements, school spotlights, and advocacy efforts such as "Fix the formula" for school funding.Recent Actions 

In March 2026, Soler led the district's decision to remove the name "César Chávez" from an elementary school following public allegations of sexual abuse against the historical figure.

The district removed signage and initiated a community input process for a potential rename (possibly reverting to the prior "Cedar Place" name), with the goal of keeping the focus on teaching and learning in a welcoming environment.

He described the allegations as "very serious offenses."Overall Style 

Soler is often described as a hands-on leader focused on student outcomes, community engagement, and practical improvements in a large urban district.

Interviews and district communications show him discussing what sparked his interest in education and his vision for Yonkers schools.

Akeem Jamal - Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Yonkers

 
Akeem Jamal previously served as Deputy Communications Director for the City of Yonkers under Mayor Mike Spano. 
In September 2019, while in that role, he was involved in a wrong-way DWI crash on Central Park Avenue in Yonkers. Driving northbound in the southbound lanes for over a mile around 4:47 a.m.,

Jamal collided head-on with another vehicle driven by Lawrence Patton, 53, of Wappingers Falls.

Both drivers suffered injuries; the other driver, Lawrence Patton, later claimed serious and permanent injuries (including a broken leg) in a civil lawsuit filed against Jamal and Jamal’s mother (who owned the vehicle).

Jamal was charged with DWI (BAC reported over 0.11%), reckless endangerment, third-degree assault, reckless driving, and driving in the wrong lane. 

Jamal later served as Assistant Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC).

In April 2025, a New York State Inspector General report criticized the use of approximately $168,680 in taxpayer funds for online reputation management and SEO services overseen by Jamal and other executives.

The IG found the effort focused on suppressing negative press about the executives (including Jamal’s prior DWI crash) rather than promoting the public authority, raising ethics concerns.
Jamal subsequently was hired as Communications Officer for Yonkers Public Schools at a reported salary of $170,000 per year, but performed poorly in the position

Then Mayor Mike Spano appointed him as Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Yonkers.

Yonkers annual employee earnings reports and budget documents are the primary public sources for current compensation details - but no listing can be found for Akeem Jamal's newly created "Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Yonkers" job.