Jean-Claude Brizard
Jean-Claude Brizard (born January 12, 1963) is an American former chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools from 2011–2012. Directly before coming to Chicago, Brizard served as the superintendent of the Rochester City School District. Brizard is best known as an education reformer, a strong charter school advocate and a champion of labor reform, particularly in regards to limiting teacher tenure status. Brizard started his career as a teacher, then an administrator, in the New York School System. He now works part time as a consultant for education reform organizations in America but primarily focuses on raising his children.[2]
Jean-Claude Brizard | |
|---|---|
| CEO of Chicago Public Schools | |
| In office May 16, 2011 – October 11, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Terry Mazany (interim)[1] |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Byrd-Bennett |
| Superintendent of Rochester City School District | |
| In office January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 12, 1963 Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Nationality | Haitian |
| Spouse(s) | K. Brooke Stafford (m. 1992) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Queens College, City University of New York |
| Profession | Educator Education Associate with Bill and Melinda Gates foundation |
Biography
Brizard was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dictator François Duvalier had his grandfather imprisoned and his parents fled to the United States when it was learned his father might be imprisoned as well.[3] After reuniting with his family, Brizard attended public schools in Brooklyn and earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a master's degree in Science Education from Queens College and a master's degree in School Administration and Supervision from the City College of New York. He began his career as an instructor at Rikers Island, later moving to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he taught physics and became principal in 1999. In 2003 he rose to the instructional superintendency of Region 8, New York City Department of Education. He attended the Superintendents’ Academy of the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems in 2007.
In 2008, he assumed the superintendency of the Rochester City School District.[4] In Rochester, he promoted charter schools and merit pay, pushed for performance standards, and met with so much opposition from the teachers’ union that they gave him a vote of no confidence before he left for Chicago.[5]
Chicago Public Schools
Brizard was hired by Rahm Emanuel and became the CEO of Chicago Public Schools on May 16, 2011.[3] He stepped down after 17 months on October 11, 2012. In a written response Brizard stated he and the Mayor had come to a "mutual agreement" that he was a "distraction" to school reform.[6] Rumors of Brizard's resignation were first reported by several news organizations on August 31, 2012 but were denied by Mayor Emanuel directly.[7] The possibility of an impending resignation first surfaced in July 2012, when portions of Brizard's personnel evaluation were leaked to the press. The leaks raised concerns about his ability to manage such a large organization as CPS and turnover of his leadership team.[8] In August 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time in more than 25 years. The policies of Brizard and Mayor Emanuel were cited as the impetus for the strike. As part of his resignation package, Brizard received a year's salary at $250,000 along with other undisclosed benefits.[9]
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2013-08-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Brizard won praise from N.Y. colleagues, catcalls from unions". Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- "Jean-Claude Brizard, Chicago's new schools chief, doesn't back down from a challenge", Chicago Tribune, Chicago, 2011-05-08, ISSN 1085-6706, retrieved 2011-05-12
- "Jean-Claude Brizard announced as new head of Chicago schools", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 2011-04-18, ISSN 1088-5153, retrieved 2011-05-12
- In Chicago, It’s a Mess, All Right By JOE NOCERA, New York Times, September 10, 2012
- Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard out by ‘mutual agreement’
- Street, Clout (October 12, 2012). "Departing Brizard to get full year's salary". Chicago Tribune.
| Educational offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Principal of the George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School June 1999 – 2003 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by |
Region 8 Instructional Superintendent, New York City Department of Education 2003 – |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by William C. Cala |
Superintendent of the Rochester City School District January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011 |
Succeeded by Bolgen Vargas (interim) |
| Preceded by Terry Mazany (interim) |
CEO of Chicago Public Schools May 16, 2011 – October 11, 2012 |
Succeeded by Barbara Byrd-Bennett |