I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Can't Tell the Players Without a Scorecard!

I've been at this edu-blogging thing for nearly two years; I'd like to believe I have a fairly good handle on the reformy scene here in Jersey. I'd like to think that I know the players, the connections, the whole tomato pie...

So it's more than a little embarrassing to admit I had no idea that Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) - the big dog in education reforminess before B4K hit town - has a new President and CEO: Christy Davis Jackson.

Some of you long-time NJ politicos are saying: "Wait a minute - the Christy Davis Jackson?"

Yep:
Excellent Education for Everyone (E3), which has been devoting itself to the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act, has just announced that it has a new President and CEO: Christy Davis Jackson, Esq. Ms. Davis Jackson will fill the shoes of the late Dan Gaby, E3’s much beloved chief executive.

Ms. Davis Jackson served as Chief of Staff to Wynona Lipman (a former Essex County Senator), was Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s State Director, and managed Jon Corzine’s senatorial campaign. She is married to Reverend Reginald Jackson, who served on E3’s Board. Rev. Jackson has resigned to avoid any conflict with his wife’s new role.

From the press release:
Ms. Davis Jackson said she views the CEO position at E3 as “… a unique opportunity to bring broad-based support to E3’s education reform proposals, including parental school choice, high academic standards, a revised and improved school funding formula, and proper treatment of teachers - - including tenure reform, performance based pay, and protection from political pressures.” She went on to say that she looked forward to the challenge of getting all stakeholders in New Jersey public education to focus on the needs of children as their first priority.

Correction: E3's press release refers to “E3’s long time CEO, Dan Gaby.” In fact, Dan Gaby was E3’s Executive Director (see this tribute in PolitickerNJ). After Gaby’s death two years ago, Derrell Bradford succeeded him as E3’s Executive Director. Bradford is now Executive Director of B4K.
This post is from the very reformy blogger Laura Waters, who also serves as the President of the Lawrence Township BOE. I Googled the you-know-what out of this story, and this is the ONLY report I could find about Jackson's appointment. Was this not released to the mainstream press? Did it only get sent out to reformy types like Waters?

Because the Jackson family has quite a colorful past:

- She was right in the middle of the scandal at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; a scandal that helped Chris Christie build his corruption fighting creds back in 2005 before he ran for governor.

- Her husband, Reverend Reginald Jackson, was at the center of a controversy when Corzine gave him $87,000 in donations; Jackson turned around and endorsed his failed  gubernatorial reelection bid.

- Hillary Clinton turned down Davis Jackson's money in 2008 when she ran in the presidential primary.

- Reginald Jackson, as president of the Black Ministers council of NJ, has had a great influence on the education policies of New Jersey.

Now Davis Jackson takes over as the CEO of the biggest voucher pusher in the state. And - if we believe Waters (who is many things but not, as far as I have ever seen, a liar) - her appointment is announced without so much as an acknowledgment of Derrell Bradford as her predecessor. Hmm....

I'm just stunned Davis Jackson's appointment has garnered so little attention. Voucher legislation is closer to passing than it has ever been; no group has pushed for this harder the E3. How does the group get a new CEO with a past like Christy Davis Jackson's with so little notice?

ADDING: Oh, my...

6 comments:

Deb said...

I think it is called stacking the deck.....

plumwalk2 said...

Did you also notice that Reverend Jackson and his entire board for his new charter school was removed for failing to register for the background check? Stacking the deck is a good way to put it. I am not surprised that there was no fanfare for Christy Davis Jackson becoming CEO for E3. Why do you think she did not get in hot water for the shenanigans over at UMDNJ? There were clear indications that she was less than innocent of inappropriate or even criminal behavior. Do you think that she and that "Most Influential African American in NJ" husband of hers made some deals with the up and coming State' Attorney that strolled in and made all types of ultimatums? I do not believe in coincidences. I also do not like it when magazines or media in general tell us who we are influenced by. So he has a following in his church. Big Whoop!

Anonymous said...

That "oh my" link to the Newark paper is amazing. Guess she is pally-wally with Chaneyfield-Jackson, Booker's hated arch enemy!

Teacher Mom said...

who's on first?

Teacher Mom said...

Anyone else bothered by this comment: "proper treatment of teachers - - including tenure reform, performance based pay, and protection from political pressures.” So treating us like trash, I would say the "hired help, but I think it's disrespectful to people in the service industry, should be expected?

Duke said...

plumwalk, just started following your blog - good stuff!

Thx for comments, everyone. More on this to come...