Janice K. Jackson

Janice K. Jackson (born May 22, 1977) is an American educator, educational administrator and former schools superintendent. Jackson served as the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, the school district's superintendent position, from December 8, 2017, until June 30, 2021. Prior to her term as superintendent, Jackson was the chief education officer of the district. Childhood and education Jackson was born on Chicago's South Side at Englewood Hospital. Jackson was the third-born of five children, and grew up in a working class household. Her father worked as a taxi driver. At one time, she, her parents, and her four siblings all lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Jackson attended Cook Elementary School in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Jackson attended Hyde Park Career Academy, graduating in 1995. Jackson attended college at Chicago State University. She graduated in December 1999, having earned a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education. Early career and continued education Jackson's education career began as a social studies teacher at South Shore Community Academy High School. Before receiving a teaching job at South Shore Community Academy High School (part of the Chicago Public Schools), Jackson worked as a cashier at an Express store. While working as a teacher at South Shore Community High School, Jackson continued to study at Chicago State University, getting a master's degree in history. Jackson was involved in the designing of a new Chicago Public Schools institution, Al Raby High School. In 2003, she helped to obtain a $500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to underwrite its establishment. The school opened in 2004, when Jackson was the age of 27. The school, located in a previously closed Chicago Public School building located near the Garfield Park Conservatory in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, was centered on providing intensive support for a small student body of under 400, emphasizing the study of technology, science, and the environment. Jackson would become the school's principal. She would later recount that she had initially planned simply to help to design the school, and had no original intent of serving as its principal.