Executive Board
2025-26

* All organizations referenced are for informational purposes only and in no way intended to represent the views of those particular organizations, i.e. Community Education Councils, Citywide Education Councils, etc. Likewise, the views of individual members on issues and advocacies outside of PLACE NYC’s mission do not represent the views of PLACE NYC.  

Yiatin Chu

Co-President

Yiatin Chu (Co-President) is a parent-elected SLT member of Stuyvesant High School. Chu’s parent leader experience also includes serving on CEC1 for the 2019-21 term, and on the SLT of IS239 Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented and PS184M Shuang Wen School. In October 2023, Yiatin was named as one of 49 “Most Powerful New Yorkers You’ve Never Heard Of” by New York Magazine. She was awarded the Unsung Shero Award in 2020 for her education advocacy by a State Assemblymember. Yiatin is a product of NYC public schools and an alumna of the Bronx High School of Science.

Lisa Marks

Co-President

Lisa Marks (Co-President) is a parent-elected SLT member at Lab Middle School as well as an active member of the Parents Associations of her children’s schools. She was formerly on the SLT at P.S. 77 Lower Lab, where she also served as PTA Co-VP of External Affairs. Lisa is a former DOE teacher who was voted “Teacher of the Year” in 2012 at the Title 1 school she taught at in the Bronx. She is the proud mom of 3 children in NYC public schools, and alumni of NYC public schools herself.

Craig L. Slutzkin

Treasurer

Craig Slutzkin (Treasurer) is both a proud parent of a son enrolled in the NYC school system and a product of the very same educational system himself. He is an elected member and President of CEC2 in Manhattan. He is also Co-President of the PS 340 PTA and member of its SLT, as well as the Second Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 5, leading its Parks & Public Spaces Committee.

Deborah Alexander

Co-Secretary

Deborah Alexander (Co-Secretary) is the proud parent of two children in NYC public schools. She is a member of the Citywide Council on High Schools, having served for ten years as a member of the District 30 CEC. In 2018 she received a New York City Proclamation for Work as a Community Leader and previously served as Secretary for PLACE NYC.

Debbie Kross

Co-Secretary

Debbie Kross (Co-Secretary) is the parent of three children – one who graduated from and two currently in NYC public schools. She is serving her third term on the Citywide Council on High Schools, currently as Co-President. She is also an officer on the PTA of the High School of American Studies. Beyond education advocacy, she is passionate about sustainable energy and building a cleaner future.

* All organizations referenced are for informational purposes only and in no way intended to represent the views of those particular organizations, i.e. Community Education Councils, Citywide Education Councils, etc. Likewise, the views of individual members on issues and advocacies outside of PLACE NYC’s mission do not represent the views of PLACE NYC.