NYC schools chief whose home was raided by feds recites Mandela's favorite poem after vague State of Schools speech

"It's the greatest poem that I know of because everybody can relate to it, because everybody goes through something," said Banks - whose two brothers and fiancee, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, have been ensnared in the City Hall scandal, too.

But Banks' second State of the Schools address was less inspiring to those looking for concrete metrics on the potential progress of city schoolkids.

He vaguely listed priorities for the year, which he said include the opening of accelerated high schools in underprivileged areas. The first of its kind HBCU Early College Prep School is set to open in Queens next fall.

In his speech to school superintendents, principals and education advocates, Banks touted the progress of the city's NYC Reads program but agreed there is still "lots of work to do."

Read at New York Post