Alan Cheng

Alan Cheng is a high school superintendent in the New York City Public Schools, overseeing a portfolio of 51 schools that includes the Performance Standards Consortium, Internationals, and NYC Outward Bound networks. His district serves over 22,000 students and is recognized nationally for scaling learner-centered, deeper learning practices within one of the largest public school systems in the country.

Cheng’s leadership emphasizes student agency, higher-order thinking, and authentic assessment aligned with the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. Under his guidance, schools have advanced performance-based assessment, project-based learning, multilingual supports, and workforce-aligned pathways such as internships and dual enrollment. He is also leading systemwide instructional initiatives, including NYC Solves, with a focus on inquiry-based mathematics and curriculum innovation.

Nationally, Cheng is an active voice in education transformation. He serves on advisory groups and steering committees with organizations including New America, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Teach For America’s Reinvention Lab. His work often highlights how AI, open education, and networked improvement can support deeper learning and equity. Prior to his current role, Cheng served as a deputy superintendent and high school principal in New York City, where he led the development of inclusive, innovative school designs. Earlier in his career, he was an Education Policy Fellow for the U.S. Senate Education Subcommittee. He holds a doctorate in Adult Development and Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.