Former Durham superintendent, who left amid 2024 staff pay disputes, resigns as head of Buffalo schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB/WNCN) — Former Durham Public Schools Superintendent Pascal Mubenga has resigned from his role leading Buffalo Public Schools less than a year after taking the job, the New York school district announced Monday.

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The Buffalo Board of Education voted during a special session to accept Mubenga’s immediate resignation. The board also appointed Chief Accountability and Information Officer Dr. Ebony Prophet-Bullock as interim superintendent, effective July 14.

No reason for Mubenga’s resignation was immediately provided.

“I simply don’t know what prompted Superintendent Mubenga’s resignation,” Buffalo Teachers Federation President Richard Nigro said. “I do know, however, that if you want to have any hope of success, and if you want to have any hope of moving forward, improving things, improving scores and everything else, you have to have consistency, routines and expectations from top to bottom. We’re seeing not a regular turnover, but kind of an all-at-once turnover in some key positions. Well, that certainly disrupts that consistency, that routine. It complicates things.”

Board member Stephon M. Wright thanked Mubenga for his service in a statement released after the announcement.

“Although his tenure was relatively brief, it was a pleasure working alongside him, and I appreciate the professionalism and commitment he brought to the role,” Wright said.

Mubenga became superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools in August 2025 after the retirement of Dr. Tonja Williams-Knights. He signed a four-year contract worth $285,000 annually.

Before moving to New York, Mubenga served as superintendent of Durham Public Schools from 2017 until his resignation in 2024.

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His departure from Durham came after the district faced widespread criticism over payroll errors that left hundreds of employees underpaid. The salary problems stemmed from the implementation of a new compensation plan approved by the school board.

Before serving as superintendent, Mubenga worked as a teacher, assistant principal and principal during his career.

His resignation comes as Buffalo Public Schools faces several high-profile challenges, including an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations involving a school board member. District officials have not identified the board member under investigation or released details about the allegations.

The district is also dealing with the fallout from a viral video showing a violent altercation between a teacher’s aide and a student, as well as concerns over a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

The Buffalo school board’s special meeting had originally been scheduled to discuss candidates for a vacant board seat after one of its members abruptly resigned last month, citing concerns about the board’s practices, transparency and accountability.

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