Costa Constantinides has been selected as Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.’s appointee on the Panel for Educational Policy, the BP’s office announced Monday.
Constantinides, a lifelong Astoria resident, has decades of experience advocating for students and investing in public schools. He has been CEO of the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens since 2021, and prior to that served as the city councilmember for the 22nd District from 2014 to 2021.
As a member of the PEP, Constantinides will help make significant decisions regarding the city’s public school system, including on the chancellor’s proposed education policies, contracts over $1 million, the budget and general matters affecting the system and its students.
Constantinides’ PEP term will last for one year and begins this month, the BP’s office said. He succeeds Shirley Aubin, whose term concluded last month.
Richards in a statement said there has been no greater advocate for children and families in Western Queens than Constantinides.
“As he joins the PEP at such a critical time for our city’s education system, I look forward to Costa’s steadfast dedication in fighting for stronger schools across The World’s Borough,” Richards said. “I am deeply grateful not only for Costa’s clear-eyed leadership, but his years of friendship as well.”
Constantinides said he is honored to be appointed to the panel.
“The foundation of our future lies in how we educate our youth and build for the generations to come,” Constantinides said. “As a student of New York City public schools myself and the son of a former head of the District 30 PTAs President Council in the 1980s, I share the Borough President’s strong commitment to a good education for every student. I am excited to get to work alongside so many other great leaders on this panel as part of the PEP.”