Ninfa Segarra

Who is Ninfa Segarra?

Ninfa Segarra is the last President of the New York City Board of Education. She served as President of the Board from 2000 to 2002 when the Board was abolished by the State of New York and power of the city schools of transferred to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

An attorney of Puerto Rican ancestry from The Bronx, Segarra became involved in politics and education issues in her home borough. In 1990, then Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer appointed Segarra as the borough's representative to the Board of Education. On the Board, Segarra became a voice for conservative social values and ran afoul of Ferrer, who asked her to resign. She dismissed the calls for her resignation and endorsed Rudy Giuliani for mayor in 1993.

After being elected mayor in 1993, Giuliani's first appointment was of Segarra as a Deputy Mayor of New York City. As deputy mayor, Segarra oversaw education, health, and youth issues for the mayor, along with community outreach. Giuliani also appointed Segarra as one of his two appointees to the Board of Education in 1993 and 1997. In total, Ms. Segarra served on the Board of Education from July 1990 to June 2002.