A few days before a rally advocating for charter schools on September 18, Eva Moskowitz, the CEO of Success Academy—New York City’s largest charter school network—made an unexpected appearance at a teacher training session. Her message to the educators was stark and clear: they must actively engage in promoting the charter school agenda.
In a recording of the meeting, which was obtained by Mother Jones and initially reported by Gothamist, Moskowitz warned her staff about the “heightened risk, policy risk, political risk” facing the charter school movement. She urged them to prepare for the upcoming march across the Brooklyn Bridge and rally in Cadman Plaza, stating, “You’re gonna need to get up early.” Reflecting on a previous rally in Albany, she dismissed any concerns about time constraints, stating, “Wah, wah, wah. We had eight days to organize the rally in Albany. We’re facing a very serious threat.”
Moskowitz also expressed frustration over the lack of participation in the organization’s “Phone 2 Action” campaign, which mandates employees to contact New York elected officials five times with prewritten messages supporting charter schools. One prospective teacher, Anita, who attended the meeting, felt disillusioned, stating, “This [job] wasn’t about school and education at all—it felt like she was just trying to push politics onto us.” Disappointed, Anita chose not to return to her training.
Interviews with eight current and former Success Academy teachers and staff reveal that political coercion and pressure to engage in political activities are pervasive within the network. Concerned about potential retaliation, these employees requested anonymity. They described a work environment where failure to publicly advocate for charter schools could jeopardize their positions.
Several employees reported being pressured to participate in the September 18 rally and to engage in outreach efforts as part of a public campaign for charter schools. This pressure was compounded by regular check-ins, where leaders prompted staff in public Slack channels to confirm their outreach efforts with emoji reactions, required screenshots as evidence, and even called teachers after hours to verify compliance.
Erin, a second-year teacher, recounted being asked to call parents and encourage their attendance at the rally. Blake, a third-year teacher, faced near-daily reminders to distribute flyers to families. Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, co-executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, criticized the expectations placed on families to attend a political event during school hours.
When approached for comment, Success Academy did not address inquiries about the pressure on employees to engage in political activities. In a statement to Gothamist, however, a spokesperson maintained that the organization has organized marches for years and that employees should not be surprised by this expectation. They did not respond to specific questions regarding potential retaliation for lack of participation.
Following the rally, which led to the cancellation of classes for many elementary and middle school students, state lawmakers called for an investigation into possible violations of state law. Senators John Liu and Shelley Mayer issued a letter to the New York State Education Department, condemning the cancellation of classes during instructional time for political purposes. “Our state provides public dollars to charter schools to educate students, not for political activism or for influencing elections,” they wrote.
Success Academy has a history of involving its staff, students, and families in political actions, but this year, the urgency has intensified, particularly following the Democratic primary victory of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Casey, a fifth-year teacher, noted that the pressure has reached unprecedented levels, with Moskowitz explicitly framing Mamdani as a threat to the charter school movement. “They started the year off by being like, ‘We’re anti-Zohran, and here’s why,’” Erin recounted.
While Success Academy asserts that its political advocacy is not linked to specific candidates or races, Moskowitz has publicly emphasized the need for a mayor sympathetic to charter school interests. Mamdani has positioned himself against raising the charter cap and expanding charter schools in the city, advocating for a review of funding and legal issues related to co-located schools.
Civil liberties advocates have raised alarms over the coercive political environment within Success Academy. Johanna Miller, the New York Civil Liberties Union’s director of education policy, criticized the requirement that employees engage in an anti-Mamdani campaign, labeling it as a direct assault on democratic values and an infringement on diversity of thought. Lorena Roque, interim director at the Center for Law and Social Policy, noted that such coercive tactics could constitute unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act.
Despite being privately run and publicly funded, charter schools are subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Under New York nonprofit law, while charters can require staff to advocate for the school, they cannot mandate support for specific political candidates.
Professors and labor experts have expressed concern about the political advocacy pushed upon Success Academy employees, particularly in relation to Mamdani’s candidacy. Moskowitz framed her demands as standard work expectations, asserting that when a boss asks for something, it should be fulfilled unless it conflicts with ethical standards.
Success Academy leaders, including co-founder Joel Greenblatt, have contributed substantial sums to political campaigns, including nearly $1 million to support independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo. Employees have voiced frustration over the increasing political pressure, with Keisha, a long-time staff member, admitting that she initially believed in the organization’s mission but has grown increasingly uncomfortable with its practices.
Teachers described an environment marked by fear, where questioning the status quo could lead to repercussions. “You learn pretty quickly not to question anything,” Blake said. Reports of sudden firings have left staff feeling insecure, with employees noting that changes to the employee handbook often seem arbitrary and are difficult to verify.
As the school year progresses, teachers report that while messaging around political engagement has shifted slightly away from Mamdani, the emphasis on perceived political risks remains strong. A recently circulated email cautioning employees about their rights and encouraging them to abstain from political activities was quickly retracted, raising suspicions about monitoring practices within the organization.
With many teachers new to the profession and lacking union protections, the pressure to conform to Success Academy’s political agenda continues to loom large. As Casey reflected on the environment, he acknowledged feeling increasingly compelled to comply with demands to avoid jeopardizing his job. “After the conversation I had, I said to myself, ‘They’re gonna be out to get me this year,’” he said, underscoring the pervasive fear that characterizes the work culture at Success Academy.
