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Incoming chancellor Cathie Black visited two elementary schools in Queens Wednesday. But just where she went remained a mystery until late in the afternoon.

The city's Department of Education said Black visited PS 111 and PS 78 in Long Island City with Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, both of Queens. The elected officials issued a statement later (see below).

Outgoing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein allowed reporters to follow him on visits to schools when he first took office in 2002. His schedule was also routinely released by the Department of Education.

But the department has been unusually secretive about Black's schedule. She has not granted any interviews to the media since Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced her appointment on November 9th. She answered a few questions at a press conference that day and then made a brief comment to New York Post columnist Cindy Adams about how her appointment came out of left field.

Black took a few more questions Tuesday after visiting PS 109 in the Bronx but didn't talk about policy, noting it was only her first day. A parent interrupted to ask her views on closing failing schools and Black said, "All of these things are very important and challenging questions and we'll come up with what we believe are the right answers."

It was Black's first visit to a public school since the state education commissioner granted her a waiver Monday from the education credentials that are normally required for school leaders. The 66 year-old publishing executive spent half an hour inside the elementary school. But reporters were not allowed to see her read to a class of first graders or meet with parents. (An industrious New York Times reporter entered the school after Black's departure and learned that she sat in a rocking chair and asked the children to name a purple stuffed dog).

What's the big secret?

Natalie Ravitz, the Department of Education's communications director, did not respond to WNYC's questions. But she gave a statement quoted on New York 1 that read: "Part of being chancellor is visiting schools and talking with principals, teachers and parents openly and candidly about what is happening in their school community. Having TV cameras and reporters over your shoulder is often not conducive to such an open exchange. So there will be public visits and private visits."

Mayor Bloomberg has said he appointed Black because she's a "world-class manager" who has the vision to steer a school system of more than a million students and an annual budget of $23 billion through a time of budget cuts. She chairs Hearst Magazines and was previously at USA TODAY and New York Magazine. Those who know her, including Katherine Wylde at the Partnership for New York City, say she is truly an excellent manager with good people skills. But her lack of experience in education means these next few weeks before she formally takes office, on January 3, will provide some information about how she's preparing to run the nation's largest school district.

Black's first visit in the Bronx was to a high performing school in a low-income, mostly Hispanic neighborhood. The school earned an A on its report card. Wednesday she visited PS 111, a prek-8 school which earned a C this year and where fewer than 20 percent of students were reading at grade level. The percentage of students passing their state exams fell tremendously this year when the state raised the bar. The other school she saw in Queens, PS 78, earned a B on its report card and has been more consistent. Both schools receive federal Title 1 funds because of their large concentrations of students in poverty.

The fact that Joel Klein is still chancellor could have something to do with why Black isn't being more visible. And the controversy over her appointment could explain why her appearances are being closely guarded. Many parents and politicians opposed having a chancellor with no experience in public education. Black attended parochial schools and her two children went to private boarding schools. State Education Commissioner David Steiner appointed her on the condition that she hire a Chief Academic Officer, and that position was given to a deputy chancellor.

Meanwhile, one group of opponents is still pushing ahead. The Deny Waiver Coalition says it's still exploring whether Black's appointment was legal and it's calling on parents, teachers and students to wear red to school Thursday.

Statement by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer

On Wednesday, December 1st Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and New York City School Chancellor-Designate Cathie Black toured two local schools in Western Queens. The tour consisted of visits to P.S. 111 Jacob Blackwell and P.S. 78 Robert F. Wagner Jr. School in Long Island City. At each school the Chancellor-Designate had an opportunity to chat with staff and visit classrooms to see first hand the wonderful work happening at each school. Assemblywoman Nolan, who is also the State Assembly’s Education Chair and Council Member Van Bramer who represents the district in which the schools are located joined the Chancellor-Designate in the tour.

“I enjoyed meeting with Cathie Black; we were able to visit two Title 1 schools with excellent principals and terrific kids,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. “I know that we will face some education challenges down the road but I appreciate the opportunity to meet with the new Chancellor. It was a good visit.”

“Today I had the opportunity to meet Cathie Black and tour two of the schools in my district with her and Assemblywoman Nolan,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “Making sure that all children are afforded every opportunity to learn and succeed in our public schools is priority number one and I expect to work with the incoming Chancellor to make that promise a reality.”