[2] Anker was named as an assistant superintendent in 1966 and was replaced as principal of Benjamin Franklin High School by Leonard F.
The Board had approached, and been turned down by, such notables as Ralph Bunche, Ramsey Clark, Arthur J. Goldberg and Sargent Shriver, before choosing Harvey B. Scribner, who had been Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education and superintendent of the Teaneck Public Schools, where he oversaw the implementation of a voluntary school integration program.
Anker's title was renamed to Chancellor as of July 1, 1970, the same day that the 32 local school boards were to take office.
[6] Citing what he called a "confidence gap" with the Board of Education, Scribner announced in December 1972 that he would leave his post as Chancellor when his three-year contract ended on June 30, 1973.
[10] In a time of belt tightening citywide, Anker said that "we cannot write off the children of New York City without calling into question every value we live by".
[10] City budget officials forced Anker to make $230 million in cuts, including the termination of 21,000 positions in the system, increasing class sizes and reducing much of the art, music and after-school programs that had previously been offered.
Anker implemented changes to expand hiring of minority teachers and to achieve a more even distribution of staffing around the school system.