Sharon Jackson named MCPER’s first director of community outreach
Longtime educational leader Sharon Jackson has been tapped to serve as the first director of community outreach for the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk.
In this role, Jackson is tasked with bringing together disparate groups with widely varying interests—everyone from government agencies to funders, professional organizations to advocacy groups, researchers to districts, schools, and students—all to support MCPER’s mission of reducing educational risk. Jackson’s duties are wide ranging, including negotiating the final details of a contract, securing funding, working as a liaison between the center and other parties on a research project, coordinating efforts across teams within the center, and intervening as necessary.
It’s a lengthy job description, but Jackson’s extensive and diverse experience across the spectrum of education uniquely positions her for this new role.
“I think there are probably only two positions I haven’t held in public education,” she said, laughing. After pausing briefly in thought, she corrected herself. “No, maybe three.”
Jackson’s résumé spans more than 30 years and nearly every level of education in Texas. She’s been a teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal for multiple grade levels. She was the director of staff development for Round Rock Independent School District. She worked as the statewide coordinator of elementary education and the mentor program at Education Service Center Region XIII. She served as both associate commissioner and deputy associate commissioner at the Texas Education Agency. She’s no stranger to the Texas State Legislature or even the Governor’s Office.
If you’re an educator in Central Texas, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Jackson.
“The people I’ve worked with over the years at the district level, at the state level, at the regional service center level—I still know them,” she said. “Many are more than colleagues; they are friends.”
Executive Director Sharon Vaughn said that bringing Jackson on board, and out of retirement, was a coup for MCPER.
“The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk has just taken a leap forward by hiring Dr. Sharon Jackson as director of community outreach,” Vaughn said. “Dr. Jackson’s understanding of how to contribute to schools comes from her extensive knowledge of school leadership, teaching, and curriculum. As an expert on professional development, Dr. Jackson brings an exciting blend of research-to-practice knowledge and true understanding of community partnerships to improve schooling. We are thrilled to have her as our colleague.”
So what enticed Jackson to come out of retirement?
“The people—I have worked with 90% of the people here for the last 12 to 15 years. I know and respect them. I know and respect their work,” Jackson said. “And the center itself—it really has a clear vision of how to help struggling students. That’s what we in education have all wanted: What do I do with the student who’s struggling? The center is doing excellent work to answer that question.”
Jackson, a Texas native, received her master’s in a Meadows Foundation-funded principals program at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University – Commerce) and her doctorate in the Cooperative Superintendency Program at The University of Texas at Austin. Among her recent accolades is the Connie Yerwood Conner African-American Women’s Profiles of Prominence, an award for community service and achievement named in memory of the public health pioneer who was the first black physician in the Texas Department of Health.
One of Jackson’s goals for her new position is to develop a strategic plan to guide the development of MCPER and explain its work to internal personnel and funders alike.
“I want to create a plan that is precise, with measurable outcomes that can be addressed often—not just at the end of the fiscal year,” she said. “I think that if we can create a ‘big-picture’ view, everyone will have the opportunity to take a step back and say, ‘Wow, we contribute a lot to education.’”