An invitation to apply for the position of Superintendent JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Jackson, THE POSITION The Jackson Public School District Board of Trustees, (Jackson, Miss.), is seeking a highly qualified and fully certified Superintendent. The Board wishes to have the successful candidate assume the responsibilities of the position July 1, 2018. McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development has been engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates to assist the Board in identifying and screening potential candidates.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

The Board recognizes that selecting a Superintendent is one of the most important decisions it will make, which is why it convened several listening sessions with community members to determine the background, skills, and abilities important to community stakeholders and essential to providing exceptional educational leadership. The following desired characteristics have been identified for the successful candidate:

• Effectively communicates with all school district constituents, including students, parents, and families; teachers, school staff, and principals; district administrative staff; the Board of Trustees; and community at large. • Is passionate about and focused on high student achievement and demonstrates a genuine commitment to excellence for all students. • Models best practices in school administration, effective instructional leadership, and authentic assessments to achieve increased academic success for all students. • Has a record of leadership and success in an urban school district. • Is a strategic thinker, has integrity, and possesses dynamic leadership skills with a record of success in problem solving. • Is honest, politically savvy, accessible to all stakeholders, and actively initiates meaningful community involvement. • Demonstrates expertise in strategic planning, school finance and management, and fiscal accountability. THE OPPORTUNITY The position of Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools (JPS) provides a once in a lifetime educational leadership opportunity and occurs at a time of unique alignment among key district stakeholders. In the fall of 2017, Governor Bryant of Mississippi, Mayor Lumumba of Jackson and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced the creation of the Better Together Commission – an initiative to transform a school district grappling with the effects poverty. At the same time, a new school board with high levels of capacity and trust was appointed. The Commission has retained the Insight Education Group to conduct a comprehensive review of schools, special education and struggling students, the Central Office and a financial analysis.

In tandem, a vibrant community engagement effort is also underway to gather insights from a diverse group of local people committed to the success of the school system and its students. Following the conclusion of Commission’s assessment and engagement, it is anticipated that significant and flexible resources will be available to implement the vision of the Superintendent, the Board of Trustees and the Community.

Over the past year, JPS scholars, teachers and administrators have achieved a number of accomplishments including: • The highest performing elementary school and 5th highest performing middle school in the state of Mississippi • Two finalists for Mississippi’s teacher and administrator of the year • Summer Educator Placement at NASA’s Langley Field in Hampton, Va. • Top 5 finish in state high school chess meet • State records in middle school track • Top 3 placements at Mississippi Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting • National Gold Medal Winner and 76 state award winners for the High School Scholastic Art Awards • National Choral awards and Festival of Gold Performance in Italy • State championships in Speech and Debate

These accomplishments are all supported by excellent educational opportunities: • Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC) • Advanced Placement (AP) • Arts Access • Ask for More Arts • Base Pair/Student Oriented Academic Research (SOAR) • Dual Enrollment / Dual Credit • Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) • International Baccalaureate (IB) • JROTC • Montessori • National Honor Society (NHS/NJHS) • Open Doors - Gifted Education Program (GEP) • Strings in the Schools

Additionally, students may acquire academic and vocational credits at Hinds Community College and through a new partnership established with .

Middle school and high school students can participate in a wide-range of sports and extracurricular activities. Sports include football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, swimming; power lifting, soccer, track, and tennis. Extracurricular activities include cheer, drill, band, chorus, chess, drama, speech and debate, academic quiz bowl and student council. THE COMMUNITY Jackson, Mississippi’s state capital and largest municipality sits at the heart of the Magnolia State, at the intersection of I-20 and I-55. With a population of over 170,000, Jackson is home to several major corporations and government agencies, including the Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Mississippi State Department of Health, Comcast, and Entergy Mississippi.

The city has become known as a hub of excellent health care with several nationally ranking health systems located throughout the city, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), St. Dominic Hospital, Baptist Health Systems, Merit Health, and numerous other clinics and physician offices. Jackson is also home to several outstanding institutions of higher learning, including , , , Tougaloo College, UMMC, Mississippi College School of Law and Hinds Community College.

Arts, culture and music course through the city at nearly every turn through the work of local artists and exhibitions in Jackson’s collection of museums, galleries, events and festivals, including the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Museum of History, Mississippi Children’s Museum, Medgar Evers Home Museum, Eudora Welty House and Garden, Mississippi Museum of Art, Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, Mississippi Blues Marathon, St. Paddy’s Day Parade and the USA International Ballet Competition. Finding opportunities to hike, hunt, fish, golf, and enjoy other outdoor activities is easy in Jackson with several golf courses, tennis courts and other leisure activities available throughout the Metro area and several state parks within driving distance.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum THE DISTRICT

Jackson Public Schools, an innovative, urban district committed to excellence, will provide every student a quality education in partnership with parents and the community.

FAST FACTS APPLICATION & SELECTION TIMELINE SELECTION PROCEDURE Students: Application available at www. 25,000+ macnjake.com. An application for superintendent should include: Application deadline: Administrators: May 14 Approximately 320 • A letter setting forth personal qualifications, experiences Finalists selected: Certificated teachers: and reasons for interest in the May 30 2,000+ position • A current résumé Interviews with Board of Trustees: Classified staff: • A completed application form June 4-8 Approximately 2,000 • Reference letters, certificates and licenses, and academic Selection of new superintendent: School Buildings: transcripts from colleges/ June 2018 7 high schools universities indicating degree(s) Target start date: 12 middle schools June 1, 2018 38 elementary schools Candidates are asked to not contact board members directly. Any effort to do so may eliminate them from consideration. Names Assessed Value: of applicants will be held in strict confidence McPherson and Jacobson, L.L.C. whenever possible; however, McPherson & $1,210,117,285 7905 L St. Suite 310 Jacobson complies with individual states’ Freedom of Information laws. Omaha, NE 68127 Operating Budget*: Phone: (402) 991-7031 Jackson Public School District is an Equal Fax: (402) 991-7168 $233,556,287.08 Opportunity Employer. E-mail: [email protected]

*Does not include IDEA or Title Funds Layout and design courtesy of Fahrenheit Creative Group, LLC.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees consists of seven members who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council. Currently, six board members are completing the staggered terms of former members.

NAME OCCUPATION

Dr. Jeanne M. Hairston, President DOCJMH, LLC Education, Policy and Practice Dr. Edward Sivak, Jr., Vice President Executive Vice Preisndet, Hope Enteprise Corporation Mrs. Barbara Hillard, Secretary Retired Educator, Jackson Public School District Ms. Andrea Jones-Davis Interim Dean of Enrollment Management, Tougaloo College Mrs. Letitia Johnson Staff Attorney, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee James L. Henley Dr. Robert Luckett Director, Marget Walker Center; Associate Professor, Jackson State University Department of History

Find out more about Jackson Public School District at www.jackson.k12.ms.us