Denotris Jackson, Ed.D

With firsthand knowledge of school board work, Dr. Denotris R. Jackson joined the staff of the Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) in 2007. MSBA Board of Directors selected Jackson as the next Executive Director, effective July 1, 2020. She also holds the distinction of being the first female, first African American, and first former school board member to serve as the Executive Director.

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Jackson previously served as Assistant Executive Director, Director of Policy/Advocacy, and Director of Board Development; positions which had over sight of Policy, Board Training, Technology, Communications, and Marketing. Prior to her employment at MSBA, the Clinton resident was appointed to two terms on the high- performing Clinton Public School District Board of Trustees and on the MSBA Board of Directors. She held various leadership positions on both boards, including serving as President of each.

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Her employment at MSBA began a new era for the association. Dr. Jackson has served as both the creator and program manager for several new services. With her guidance, MSBA created the Prospective Superintendent Leadership Academy (PSLA), a professional development program designed to prepare potential candidates for superintendent positions in Mississippi’s public schools. The program provides intensive in-depth preparation for the challenging job of a public school superintendent. To date, more than 75 graduates of the program have become superintendents and 75 administrators have received promotions to district office positions, such as Assistant Superintendent.

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In the realm of technology, Jackson is bridging the gap between board members and governance tools. She oversees the development team in MSBA’s newest endeavors, OAgendas - the electronic board meeting service and the Technology and Branding departments. She was instrumental in the design and development of the MSBA Online Policy program, the online training programs, and the MSBA app -iMSBA. Jackson serves on the association’s training faculty, has written school board member continuing education training modules, and has presented at state, regional, and national conferences. She also serves on the association’s Superintendent Search Committee.

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Jackson’s background includes 10 years of Early Childhood Administration in both the private and public sectors. She also worked for nine years in real estate sales and marketing with RE/MAX Real Estate Group. Her public school experience includes working in the Business Office of the Clinton Public School District. Jackson holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Jackson State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Clinton and the Disney Business Institute. One of her passions is biblical studies, which she shares with students as an instructor at the Southeast Bible College.

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Dr. Jackson is active in her church, Greater Bethlehem Temple, where she serves as a Sunday School Teacher, choir member, and education committee member. She is the 2017 recipient of the Mississippi College Educator Advocate Award, the 2017-18 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Red Rose Award, and the 2016 Friend of Education award presented by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators. Ms. Jackson served as an associate member of the Junior Auxiliary of Clinton, having served as a Crown Club Advisor mentoring high school girls in community service and chairing several projects. Denotris and her husband Kenneth have five adult children and four grandchildren.