New York, NY – At a New York City Hall press conference on June 12, 2026, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani named Celeste Ramirez President of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA).
“Every child deserves a school that inspires them to learn, supports them to succeed and reflects the value we place on their future. School buildings are more than bricks and mortar. They are places where young New Yorker’s learn, grow, eat healthy meals, build community and forge their futures,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Celeste Ramirez brings decades of experience, a deep commitment to public service and firsthand knowledge of the work ahead. Under her leadership, we will accelerate the construction of the classrooms we need to meet class size requirements, modernize our school infrastructure and ensure every student has access to a world-class learning environment.”
“Throughout my life, I’ve seen the impact public schools have on our communities – first as a child, newly immigrated to this country, welcomed with open arms by my local public school, and then in my professional career, where I saw the ways physical infrastructure that inspires and innovates turns schools into true community centers,” said SCA President Celeste Ramirez. “As I step into this role, I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the schoolchildren, educators and staff that make up our school communities, and eager to support the contractors that make this work possible.”
About Celeste Ramirez
The School Construction Authority is responsible for designing and building safe, sustainable public schools for New York City’s students. Ramirez had served in multiple leadership roles at the agency before leading her own construction management firm. Celeste Ramirez served as the President and CEO of CARA Construction Management, Inc., the construction consulting firm she founded in 2004.
Prior to founding CARA, Ramirez spent 15 years with the SCA, serving in several leadership roles, including Manager of Operations for the SCA’s legal and real estate division.
