To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

The publishing executive was joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as she visited P.S. 109 in the Bronx, where she spent time reading to a group of first graders and discussing their career goals. No media were allowed into the school during Black's visit.

Tuesday's tour was aimed at familiarizing herself with the school system and winning over some of her critics.

"We’ll keep moving around the boroughs and we’ll move from lower school to middle school to high school and it’s going to take a bit of time but that’s where I want to be," Black said.

Speaking to reporters for the first time in a press conference-like setting, Black would not comment on specific policies, like closing schools or overcrowding, because, she said, she's so new. She also did not want to talk about the controversy over her lack of education experience and whether she's qualified to lead the system. But when pressed, she said she has the mayor's support.

"The mayor has said right from the beginning in our first conversation, what I need is a very experienced manager who's used to complex organizations, who's a decision maker and is a very good people person and he chose me,” she said.

While the tour inside PS 109 was closed to the press, the school's principal says Black told students she's nervous, like they might be on the first day of school.

Black then spent the rest of the day at the Department of Education headquarters at Tweed Courthouse, where a small group of parents held a protest against the school chancellor's appointment.

The protestors said they were part of a "Deny Waiver Coalition," which refers to the waiver granted yesterday by State Education Commissioner David Steiner, which allowed Black to become chancellor.

Black needed a waiver due to her lack of educational experience, and the same measure was needed by outgoing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. To get the waiver, Black agreed to appoint a senior DOE deputy, Shael Polakow-Suransky, to be chief academic officer.

The demonstrators are asking opponents of Black's appointment to wear red on Thursday and to show up at a 4 p.m. protest at Tweed Courthouse on that day, where the activists will announce whether they will pursue a legal challenge to Black's appointment.

"It's insulting to administrators and teachers, those of us who have done the legwork to get our credentials, that we are going to be working under someone who does not have the same credentials that we would be required to have," said teacher Carmen Applewhite.

"We don't want her to learn on the job for the next three years, after spending the last 66 years showing no interest in public education and in our kids," said District 3 Parents Council President Noah Gotbaum.

Yet some Bronx parents who spoke with NY1 on Tuesday said they are willing to give Black a chance.

"I just want to make sure that the schools and the students do succeed and she's able to change the system,” said one parent. “The school system, it needs to really change, and I hope she does a good job."

“I hope that she's very aware about what she's gonna do for the community, for our parents and our children, as well," said another.

The principal at P.S. 109 in the Bronx also stood by the new chancellor. When reporters asked if she thought Black was qualified to take over her job as principal tomorrow, she said, “yes, definitely.”

Black is set to take over for Klein as chancellor in January.