Veteran of NYC’s English and Spanish media to head DOE communications

Maite Junco, the head of CUNY’s Voice of NY ethnic media project, is now in charge of shaping the Department of Education’s message, Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced Monday.

As senior advisor to the chancellor, she replaces Andrew Kirtzman, who stepped down in January.

Junco was a longtime New York Daily News editor and is a veteran of Spanish-language media. In 15 years at the Daily News, she served as an assignment editor and managing editor for Hispanic publications.

In a statement, Chancellor Carmen Fariña implied that Junco would be tasked with two of Fariña’s broad goals: improving outreach and focusing on the positive things happening throughout the school system.

“Communicating clearly and often to students, families, and educators is central to developing a world-class school system,” Fariña said. “With decades of invaluable experience, Maite will be a key member of my team. With so many successes occurring inside our classrooms, she will help us tell the stories that aren’t being told, as she’s been doing throughout her career.”

Also announced today: Devora Kaye of SKDKnickerbocker will join Devon Puglia heading up the day-to-day operations of the press office.