Jean-Claude Brizard

Jean-Claude Brizard (born January 12, 1963) is an American former school superintendent. He served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools from 2011 to 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 30, 2011 – October 11, 2012
Preceded byTerry Mazany (interim)[1]
Succeeded byBarbara Byrd-Bennett
Superintendent of Rochester City School District
In office
January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011
Personal details
Born (1963-01-12) January 12, 1963
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
SpouseK. Brooke Stafford (m. 1992)
Children4
Alma materQueens College, City University of New York
ProfessionEducator
Education Associate with Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Signature

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 nominated by Rahm Emanuel to be CEO of Chicago Public Schools on May 6, 2011.[3] His appointment was approved by the Chicago Board of Education on May 25, and he took office on May 30.[6] 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.[7] Rumors of Brizard's resignation were first reported by several news organizations on August 31, 2012, but were denied by Mayor Emanuel directly.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

References
  1. "Chicago Public Schools : Terry Mazany". Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  2. "Brizard won praise from N.Y. colleagues, catcalls from unions". Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  3. "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
  4. "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
  5. In Chicago, It’s a Mess, All Right By JOE NOCERA, New York Times, September 10, 2012
  6. Malone, Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and Tara (25 May 2011). "CPS Board approves appointment of Brizard". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  7. Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard out by ‘mutual agreement’
  8. "Brizard Rumor Isn't True, Emanuel Says".
  9. "Here's Chicago Public Schools back story as Brizard leaves, Emanuel names new chief | Crain's Chicago Business". 11 October 2012.
  10. Street, Clout (October 12, 2012). "Departing Brizard to get full year's salary". Chicago Tribune.
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