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June 2, 2015: Clarion Ledger: Administrator at JPS reportedly fired
When contacted by The Clarion-Ledger on Tuesday, Carol Dorsey said that the letter she was given by Superintendent Cedrick Gray stated the reason was for "loss of confidence in her ability to be part of his administration." May 18, 2015: Jackson Free Press: Erica Conner
Jackson Public Schools recently named Johnson Elementary School teacher Erica Conner the 2015 Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Cedrick Gray and other JPS administrators presented Conner with the award during a surprise visit to her classroom in February. |
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Apr 29, 2015: WLBT: Jackson Public Schools Code of Conduct: Seeking parental input
So for the upcoming school year we are asking parents to get engaged by first reviewing the student code of conduct and now sharing their feedback," Dr. Cedric Gray told reporters. Apr 22, 2015: Clarion Ledger: 5 things to know: JPS school board meeting
Superintendent Cedrick Gray delivered a legislative wrap-up, noting JPS is underfunded approximately $11 million in MAEP funding this year. Gray also expressed his concerns about the amount of testing -- a total of six to eight weeks -- third graders will be subjected to. |
Apr 22, 2015: Jackson Free Press: Critics Blast ‘Third-Grade Gate’ Tests
"It's going as smoothly as it can go," Dr. Cedrick Gray, the superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, told the Jackson Free Press of the testing.
"It's going as smoothly as it can go," Dr. Cedrick Gray, the superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, told the Jackson Free Press of the testing.
Dr. Cedrick Gray was appointed superintendent by the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees in 2012. Dr. Gray was the superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools in Fayette County, Tennessee, where he was considered an agent of educational reform. In his first year as the district's Lead Educator, Dr. Gray established aggressive strategic goals, a three-year academic plan, and a mantra of "Focus. Commitment. Service." One of the district's schools was designated a School of Promise by the State of Tennessee, leading the way in literacy. Under Dr. Gray's leadership, Fayette County Schools showed extensive improvement on the state Education Department's 2011 Report Card.
Prior to becoming a superintendent, Dr. Gray was principal of Craigmont Middle School and Lester Pre-K-8 School, both in Memphis, Tennessee. At Craigmont, he was credited for its successful turnaround in culture and academic achievement. During his tenure at Craigmont Middle, Dr. Gray was Mentor Principal for New Leaders for New Schools and was nominated for Principal of the Year in his second year as a school principal. Following two successful years in the school building, he then led the Professional Development efforts for the school district's 400 principals and assistant principals in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development.
During his tenure as principal of Lester Pre-K-8 School in the Binghampton Community of Memphis, the school made a complete turnaround in climate and culture. Under his leadership, volunteer contributions of time and money increased, resulting in over 1,000 hours of volunteer tutoring and nearly $100,000 for supplies for students. Academically, during the 2010 state writing exam, 81 percent of students on the failing list for writing scored at proficient or advanced levels.
Since his arrival, Dr. Gray has been acclaimed as a true educational visionary. His mantra of "Building Stronger Schools Together" has taken the District to new heights. Under his leadership, Dr. Gray restored the District’s state and national accreditation status to “accredited” and “in good standing” respectively. Additionally, he led the efforts to raise the number of high performing successful schools in the District, five of which have been designated in the top 10 percent in the state. His innovative approach to instruction also guided the District to its first-ever 1:1 digital initiative, in which all high school students in the District have a laptop computer and/or access to personal computing devices. He also helped establish a city-wide collaborative effort to improve educational opportunities for children through Alignment Jackson. Through his leadership and guidance, the District has been revived and given new focus. Its strategic direction process, "Wearing WIGs, having FITs, and saying ABCs," applies research-based focus to school improvement and student achievement.
He has also led the Jackson Public School District in many operational improvements, including 1) Migrated district email to the "cloud" by utilizing Microsoft Office 365 at a significant cost savings to the District and eliminating mailbox size restrictions for teachers and principals, 2) Converted analog fax lines to a digital system, leveraging the District's networked multi-function copiers as fax machines, 3) the Food Service department has been awarded the "Gold Award" for all 38 elementary schools by the USDA, 4) Implemented proactive, money saving green preventative maintenance and energy management programs within the Facilities Maintenance department, 5) Inspired new teachers and the Human Resources department in hiring more than 450 certified teachers and is implementing an automated substitute teacher placement process, 6) Led the District, for the first time ever, in moving to online student registration, and 7) Increased the District’s fund balance by nearly 50 percent.
He has been featured in numerous publications, such as, BOOM, Who's Who in Black, MS, etc. He has also published several articles in national publications that include "Five Things Superintendents Want Every Principal to Know" and "Our Children, Our Choice." He also serves as executive producer to a local television program on education in Jackson, "Sup with the Supt" and the district's electronic newsletter, Key Communicator.
Dr. Gray's other leadership roles in education include the following:
Dr. Gray was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, as a child. He is a 1989 graduate of Wooddale High School in Memphis. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Memphis, and earned his educational specialist and doctorate degrees from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
Accepting his calling to the preaching ministry in 1999 at St. Luke Baptist Church in Memphis, Dr. Gray most recently served as associate minister of his home church, Castalia Baptist. Dr. Gray and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of their daughter, Peyton.
Prior to becoming a superintendent, Dr. Gray was principal of Craigmont Middle School and Lester Pre-K-8 School, both in Memphis, Tennessee. At Craigmont, he was credited for its successful turnaround in culture and academic achievement. During his tenure at Craigmont Middle, Dr. Gray was Mentor Principal for New Leaders for New Schools and was nominated for Principal of the Year in his second year as a school principal. Following two successful years in the school building, he then led the Professional Development efforts for the school district's 400 principals and assistant principals in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development.
During his tenure as principal of Lester Pre-K-8 School in the Binghampton Community of Memphis, the school made a complete turnaround in climate and culture. Under his leadership, volunteer contributions of time and money increased, resulting in over 1,000 hours of volunteer tutoring and nearly $100,000 for supplies for students. Academically, during the 2010 state writing exam, 81 percent of students on the failing list for writing scored at proficient or advanced levels.
Since his arrival, Dr. Gray has been acclaimed as a true educational visionary. His mantra of "Building Stronger Schools Together" has taken the District to new heights. Under his leadership, Dr. Gray restored the District’s state and national accreditation status to “accredited” and “in good standing” respectively. Additionally, he led the efforts to raise the number of high performing successful schools in the District, five of which have been designated in the top 10 percent in the state. His innovative approach to instruction also guided the District to its first-ever 1:1 digital initiative, in which all high school students in the District have a laptop computer and/or access to personal computing devices. He also helped establish a city-wide collaborative effort to improve educational opportunities for children through Alignment Jackson. Through his leadership and guidance, the District has been revived and given new focus. Its strategic direction process, "Wearing WIGs, having FITs, and saying ABCs," applies research-based focus to school improvement and student achievement.
He has also led the Jackson Public School District in many operational improvements, including 1) Migrated district email to the "cloud" by utilizing Microsoft Office 365 at a significant cost savings to the District and eliminating mailbox size restrictions for teachers and principals, 2) Converted analog fax lines to a digital system, leveraging the District's networked multi-function copiers as fax machines, 3) the Food Service department has been awarded the "Gold Award" for all 38 elementary schools by the USDA, 4) Implemented proactive, money saving green preventative maintenance and energy management programs within the Facilities Maintenance department, 5) Inspired new teachers and the Human Resources department in hiring more than 450 certified teachers and is implementing an automated substitute teacher placement process, 6) Led the District, for the first time ever, in moving to online student registration, and 7) Increased the District’s fund balance by nearly 50 percent.
He has been featured in numerous publications, such as, BOOM, Who's Who in Black, MS, etc. He has also published several articles in national publications that include "Five Things Superintendents Want Every Principal to Know" and "Our Children, Our Choice." He also serves as executive producer to a local television program on education in Jackson, "Sup with the Supt" and the district's electronic newsletter, Key Communicator.
Dr. Gray's other leadership roles in education include the following:
- Governing Board, Alignment Jackson
- Board of Directors, JSU Institute of Government
- Mississippi Department of Education Educational Principles & Practices Task Force
- Board of Directors, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
- Advisory Board, JSU College of Education
- Facilitator/Trainer, Association of Middle Level Education's Leadership Institute
- Founding Member, Mississippi Education Reform Collaborative
- Member, American Association of School Administrators
- Member, Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color
- Member, Council of Great City Schools
- Member, Mississippi Association of School Administrators
- Member, Mississippi Association of School Superintendents
- Member, Rotary of Jackson
- Keynote Speaker for national audiences
Dr. Gray was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, as a child. He is a 1989 graduate of Wooddale High School in Memphis. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Memphis, and earned his educational specialist and doctorate degrees from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
Accepting his calling to the preaching ministry in 1999 at St. Luke Baptist Church in Memphis, Dr. Gray most recently served as associate minister of his home church, Castalia Baptist. Dr. Gray and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of their daughter, Peyton.