Jenkins named chair of Council of Great City Schools board

Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins has been named chair of the Council of the Great City Schools’ board of directors.

For the next year, Jenkins will lead the 150-member board, which is comprised of the superintendent and a school board member from each of the 75 big-city school districts represented by the council.

The council and its member school districts work to help students meet the highest standards and become successful and productive members of society. It also aims to keep lawmakers, the media and the public informed about the progress and problems in big-city schools.

Jenkins has served as OCPS superintendent since 2012. As new chair of the council, she succeeds Michael O’Neill, vice-chairman of the Boston School Committee for Boston Public Schools.

Kelly Gonez, school board president for the Los Angeles Independent School District, will be the new chair-elect. William Hite Jr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, will take over the secretary-treasurer role. 

“The Council of the Great City Schools is extremely fortunate to have Jenkins, a recognized education leader, as its next chair,” said Council Executive Director Ray Hart. “The wealth of knowledge and expertise Jenkins and her leadership team brings will provide important direction and guidance to urban schools as they prepare to resume in-person learning this fall, as well as develop plans to effectively spend federal COVID-19 relief funds to address student needs.”