Mayor Solomon Appoints Dr. Dia Bryant As Deputy Mayor For Education
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MAYOR SOLOMON APPOINTS DR. DIA BRYANT AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR EDUCATION
Nationally recognized education leader to coordinate citywide initiatives to support Jersey City students and families
JERSEY CITY, NJ (January 30, 2026) – Mayor James Solomon today announced the appointment of Dr. Dia N. Bryant as Deputy Mayor for Education, a new position created to lead coordinated education initiatives across city government.
Dr. Bryant brings more than two decades of experience spanning classroom teaching, school founding, district leadership, and statewide policy. She will serve as the city's top liaison to bring together education stakeholders, coordinate between public schools, families, and city services, and secure partnerships and funding to support Jersey City students.
"Every child in Jersey City deserves a bright future, and that starts with schools that work for our kids," said Mayor James Solomon. "Dr. Bryant has spent her career fighting for students who have been underserved by public systems. She knows what it takes to turn policy into results in the classroom. I'm proud to have her leading this work for Jersey City."
As Deputy Mayor for Education, Dr. Bryant will lead the administration's efforts to add 1,000 summer jobs for Jersey City students; expand after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for students at every grade level; and coordinate city services to cut chronic absenteeism to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the Mayor's first term.
"Public education is the foundation of democracy and holds the promise of our future, and Jersey City has an opportunity to show what's possible when an entire city commits to its young people," said Dr. Dia Bryant. "I'm honored to join Mayor Solomon's administration and work alongside educators, families, and community partners to make sure every student in this city has the support they need to succeed."
Dr. Bryant most recently served as Executive Director of The Education Trust–New York, where she led a statewide policy and advocacy agenda advancing educational equity. She played a key role in establishing the New York Alliance for Early College Pathways and securing a $64.58 million Early College Opportunity Fund in the state's 2025 budget.
Previously, Dr. Bryant served as Special Assistant to the First Deputy Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education under Chancellor Richard Carranza, where she helped design system-wide strategies focused on equity, leadership development, and instructional improvement across the nation's largest school district. She began her career as a teacher in Brooklyn, teaching mathematics, and later founded and led a public school.
Dr. Bryant holds a Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) and is a first-generation college graduate. She currently co-leads the National Math Improvement Project, supporting major urban districts in strengthening mathematics instruction at scale.
About Mayor James Solomon | James Solomon was sworn in as the 50th Mayor of Jersey City on January 15, 2026. A cancer survivor, former professor at NJCU, and eight-year City Council member, Mayor Solomon is committed to building a Jersey City government as good as its people—one that delivers the big things and the basics, puts residents before developers, and earns the public's trust through transparency and accountability. He lives in Jersey City with his wife Gaby and their three daughters.