Executive Board
2026-27

* 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 SLTs of IS239 Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented and PS184M Shuang Wen School.

Lisa Marks

Co-President

Lisa Marks (Co-President) is a parent-elected member of Lab Middle School’s SLT. She previously served as an SLT member of P.S. 77 Lower Lab, as well as PTA Co-VP of External Affairs. She 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 parent 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 has served multiple roles within the PS340 Sixth Avenue Elementary School PTA, including Co-President, Co-Vice President and Co-Secretary, as well as serving as a member of its SLT, and was previously a long time member and officer of Manhattan Community Board 5, leading its Parks & Public Spaces Committee.

Deborah Alexander

Co-Secretary

Deborah Alexander (Co-Secretary) is the co-President of the Citywide Council on High Schools, having served for ten years as a member and President 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.
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Debbie Kross

Co-Secretary

Debbie Kross (Co-Secretary) is the parent of three children currently attending (or who graduated from) 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.