#DOE diversity chief in charge of ‘implicit bias’ training leaves

The Department of Education staffer who led “implicit bias” training for school faculty has left the job.

Paul Forbes, executive director of Educational Equity, Anti-Bias and Diversity, tweeted last week that he was leaving the DOE after 25 years serving city schools.

Chancellor Richard Carranza, who promoted Forbes to the post in November 2018, did not publicly announce Forbes’ departure.

DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer would not say why Forbes was leaving.

“Paul Forbes is a true champion for equity and we’re grateful for the 25 years of service he gave to the students of our city,” Styer said. “The important work of expanding our equity programs in schools across the city will continue based on the strong foundation Paul established.”

Officials are “exploring options” to replace Forbes, Styer said.

Forbes did not return messages on Saturday.

Forbes, 47, tweeted he began working for the DOE as an intern in the Office of Community Relations under the since-defunct Board of Education at 110 Livingston St. in Brooklyn.

Before Carranza tapped Forbes to work in his Office of Equity and Access, Forbes directed a program that worked with high schools to increase the number of black and Latino teens graduating high school career- and college-ready.

Before that, he was director of Safety, Suspensions and Youth Development.

Asked on Twitter whether he had retired, Forbes replied: “Not retiring just yet.”

Forbes told others he didn’t have another job. “Right now, I don’t have any plans per se. Just leaving…gonna breathe for a minute then go from there,” he tweeted.

Forbes led the controversial “implicit bias” sessions, which instructed DOE teachers and other staff how to recognize their subconscious prejudices and white privilege.  

A former DOE administrator, Leslie Chislett, the fourth woman to sue Carranza for allegedly creating a hostile atmosphere for white employees, mentioned Forbes in her lawsuit against the DOE.

Chislett quoted Forbes as a saying he was unconcerned by mounting scrutiny of the department’s practices “because this chancellor truly has our back.”