Janice K. Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janice Jackson
|
|
|---|---|
| 7th CEO of Chicago Public Schools | |
| In office December 8, 2017 – June 30, 2021 |
|
| Mayor | Rahm Emanuel Lori Lightfoot |
| Preceded by | Forrest Claypool |
| Succeeded by | LaTanya McDade (acting) José Torres (interim) Pedro Martinez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1977 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Torrence Price
(m. 2017) |
| Education | Chicago State University (BA, MA) University of Illinois, Chicago (MEd, EdD) |
| Signature | .png) |
Janice K. Jackson (born May 22, 1977) is an American educator who once led the entire Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system. From 2017 to 2021, she served as the CEO, which is like being the superintendent or top leader for all the public schools in Chicago.
Before becoming the CEO, Jackson was the chief education officer for the district, helping to make important decisions about learning and teaching.
Contents
Growing Up and Going to School
Janice Jackson was born on the South Side of Chicago. She was one of five children in a working class family, which means her parents worked hard in jobs to support the family. Her father was a taxi driver. For a while, her whole family lived in a small two-bedroom apartment.
Jackson went to Cook Elementary School and then Hyde Park Career Academy, finishing in 1995. She then went to Chicago State University and earned a bachelor's degree in history and education in 1999.
From Teacher to Principal
Jackson started her career as a social studies teacher at South Shore Community Academy High School. While teaching, she also earned a master's degree in history from Chicago State University.
She helped design a brand new school called Al Raby High School. To help get it started, she helped win a $500,000 grant (a gift of money for a special purpose) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When the school opened in 2004, Jackson became its principal at just 27 years old. The school focused on helping a small number of students with technology, science, and the environment.
While she was a principal, Jackson earned a second master's degree and then a doctorate in Urban Education Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago. A doctorate is the highest degree a person can get from a university.
Later, she was asked to create another new school, George Westinghouse College Prep, and became its principal too. In 2014, she moved to a new role where she was in charge of 26 schools and 14,000 students.
Leading Chicago's Schools
In 2015, Jackson became the chief education officer for all of Chicago Public Schools. Then, on December 8, 2017, she became the CEO of the entire district. She was the first leader of Chicago's schools in 20 years who had actually been a teacher and principal in the city.
Challenges as CEO
When Jackson became CEO, the school district was facing several big challenges.
- Fewer students were enrolling in the schools.
- Some schools were overcrowded, while others were nearly empty.
- The state had found problems with the district's special education program.
Jackson also had to rebuild trust after the previous two leaders had to leave their jobs because of scandals.
What She Accomplished
Jackson started a mentoring program called Great Expectations. This program encourages Black and Hispanic men to become leaders in Chicago's schools. In 2018, she also created an Office of Equity to make sure all students have a fair chance to succeed.
In 2018, a news report revealed that the school district had not handled cases of student harm correctly for many years. In response, Jackson created a plan to keep students safer. She started the Office of Student Protections, required new background checks for all adults in schools, and changed rules to better protect students.
When Lori Lightfoot became mayor of Chicago in 2019, she decided to keep Jackson as CEO. Later that year, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike. One of the biggest challenges of her final years as CEO was leading the schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 30, 2021, Jackson stepped down as CEO, ending her 22-year career with Chicago Public Schools. Mayor Lightfoot praised her for her strong leadership.
Life After CPS
In September 2021, Jackson became the CEO of HOPE Chicago. It is a program that gives scholarships to Chicago students to help them pay for college.
Many people have wondered if she might run for mayor of Chicago one day, but she has said she is not interested.
Personal Life
Jackson married Torrence Price in 2017. They have a daughter.
References
