Dr. Jenkins serves as CGCS' chair
Superintendent Barbara Jenkins will chair the Council of the Great City Schools’ Board of Directors for a one-year term.
“The Council of the Great City Schools is extremely fortunate to have Jenkins, a recognized education leader, as its next chair,” Council Executive Director Ray Hart said. “The wealth of knowledge and expertise Jenkins and her leadership team brings will provide important direction and guidance to urban schools as they prepare to resume in-person learning this fall as well as develop plans to effectively spend federal COVID-19 relief funds to address student needs.”
Dr. Jenkins has served as OCPS’ superintendent since 2012. Under her leadership, the district won the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education in 2014, and has repeatedly been recognized by the College Board for increasing access to Advanced Placement course work, while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the number of students earning exam scores for college credit.
Dr. Jenkins succeeds Michael O’Neill, vice-chairman of the Boston School Committee for Boston Public Schools. He will now serve as the immediate past chair.
Other leadership team members include Kelly Gonez, school board president for the Los Angeles Independent School District, as chair-elect; and William Hite Jr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, as secretary-treasurer post.
The 150-member board is composed of the superintendent and a school board member from each of the 75 big-city school districts represented by the Council.