Janice Jackson, CEO of CPS, speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, during negotiations between the district and Chicago Public Schools. (WTTW news)
Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, will announce Monday afternoon that she is leaving the school district she has run for the past three years, according to the city.
The sources confirm that Jackson will make the announcement at 1 p.m. Press conference on Monday with Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Jackson confirmed the news himself in a letter to CPS staff on Monday morning, in which she said she would leave CPS when her contract expires on June 30.
« Though I still believe that in CPS With much to be done, I also believe it is time to pass the torch on to new leadership for the next chapter, « she wrote in the letter.
Jackson’s departure comes after she left the school district during COVID-19 Pandemic led to distance learning through an unprecedented move. Her tenure was also the first work stoppage in seven years when the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike in the fall of 2019.
The announcement comes weeks after the district’s second-senior officer, LaTanya McDade, announced she was closing will direct the Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia this school year. City sources confirm that CPS Chief Operating Officer Arnie Rivera will also be leaving the district.
Jackson was named CEO in January 2018, a month after her predecessor Forrest Claypool stepped down after a surveillance report identifying his role Described in a « major cover-up » during an ethical investigation by the district general counsel.
She began her career with CPS in 1999 as a social science teacher and debate team coach at South Shore High School. From there she became the principal at Al Raby High School and then moved to Westinghouse College Prep just a few blocks away. After five years there, she took up her first position at headquarters overseeing 26 schools and more than 14,000 students as the district network director.
Jackson then served as Claypool’s district’s chief education officer until she was named CEO .
« When I began this journey, I made a commitment to lead with integrity, courage, and excellence, and to bring much-needed stability to the district, » wrote Jackson. « I have kept that promise and will continue to advocate for the children of Chicago. » In her letter, Jackson refers to several successes that have been achieved under her leadership, including increases in student performance, « dramatic increases » graduation rates, college enrollment and graduation rates, and the « largest capital investment in CPS history, » prioritizing the communities on the south and west sides of the city.
Jackson has spent much of the past few months trying to organize a return to the classroom for CPS students who had to study remotely for a year during the pandemic.
However, these efforts were pushed back by CTU due to various safety concerns and almost culminated in another teachers strike earlier this year .
In her letter, Jackson said the district’s « collective focus » over the next few months would be on « making a success. » To ensure schools reopen full-time in the fall « safely and safely.
» This includes implementing our comprehensive plan to help our schools recover from the pandemic by addressing academic, social and emotional needs and invest in supports that create transformative change, « she wrote. « It’s going to be a down payment for the bright future and big things for CPS. »
One of my earliest memories in life was arriving at a CPS Head Start classroom over 40 years ago. I remember it vividly because I was very sad that I couldn’t go to school that day due to registration. However, to my delight, I returned the next day and enjoyed a fun day of study. I remember the brightness and excitement in the room as we played and sat in reading circles listening attentively as our teacher read a story. The fact that one of my earliest memories in life has CPS at its center was an indication of a lifelong love for our district and an undying passion for education. CPS has been an integral part of my life, first as a student, mostly as a parent, and most humbly as a CEO. With that adoration, I have led this great school district as CEO for the past four years. While I believe there is still much to be done in CPS, I also believe that the time has come to pass the torch on to new leadership for the next chapter. Therefore, after careful consideration, I made the difficult decision not to renew my contract as CEO, which will expire on June 30, 2021.
For the past seven years, I have held senior positions at CPS and I am proud of the many of the accomplishments achieved through the hard work of our students, teachers, consultants, administrators and staff, and with the strong and ongoing support of Mayor Lightfoot and our board of directors. We have achieved so much together, including nationally recognized increases in student achievement, dramatic increases in graduation rates, college enrollment and graduation rates, and the expansion of more academic programs in the city, including the largest capital investment in CPS history, the communities Priority on the south side and west side of Chicago.
With justice at the center of our five year vision, our incredible team has launched several initiatives that will help us achieve our goal of a high quality educational experience for all children. One of the most fulfilling accomplishments as a CEO is creating quality educational opportunities in communities where historic divestments have taken place. The development of an academic program expansion process resulted in an increase in rigorous programs across the city and the creation of Englewood STEM High School and Bronzeville Classical, two high quality schools both located on the south side of Chicago. We have done this in collaboration with the community action councils and other community residents. These projects have demonstrated the power of working together and investing in our neighborhoods, and I hope they will continue even more intensely in the years to come as many more communities in the city need and deserve higher quality education.
My tenure has not been without its adversities. From day one, however, I have made a commitment to face any challenges in our district. I thank each of you who helped us overcome these challenges by showing up daily with unwavering commitment to the children of Chicago. Despite a disruptive year, CPS is developing faster than ever. In financial terms, we’ve made great improvements, including increasing the equity of school funding and making significant investments in schools and students with an emphasis on underserved communities.
As I wrap up the next few months in CPS, our collective focus will be on building a Ensure successful and safe reopening of schools full-time in the fall. This includes implementing our comprehensive plan to help our schools recover from the pandemic by addressing academic, social and emotional needs and investing in supports that make transformative change. It will be a down payment for the bright future and the great things that are to come for CPS.
When I began this journey, I made a pledge to lead with integrity, courage, and excellence, and to provide the district with much-needed stability to lend. I have kept this promise and will continue to work for the children of Chicago. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Mayor Lightfoot and the residents of Chicago for trusting and supporting my leadership during my tenure at CPS.
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