Pittsboro, NC – After the Chatham County Board of Education named Dr. Anthony Jackson as the new superintendent of Chatham County Schools on Thursday evening, Dr. Jackson made a few comments. Video and text is below.
First of all I want to say, tonight, I’m absolutely humbled and glad to be here with you. Let’s get it out of the way. I do love children. And I tell people that without any qualification, I love children. So anything I can do to help move that ball forward with children I want to do and I want to do well. And so I thank the board for this opportunity.
I thank you for the opportunity and the trust you placed in me, to come in and share in this journey, because it is a shared experience. It’s a shared responsibility. But I would be remiss if I didn’t take a minute to just honor my parents.
And anytime I get to sit before any group, I honor my parents. I want to say to you that tonight, I sit here is the realization of Robert and [unclear] hopes and dreams. And I want every child to have that experience as they grow older to be able to sit in a room and have their parents be proud of them. And while my parents aren’t here. I know that tonight, they are proud of me. And so with that, I want to share this moment with them and for them. For all that they poured into me because I am who I am because of them.
I want to thank my wife, Dr. Tawannah Jackson, who is my partner in this work, and she keeps me sane and keeps me level and keeps me balanced. And so I appreciate her. She’s been my partner on this journey. And I could not do the work without her.
I want to take this opportunity as well, to thank those individually. I’ve known about Chatham County Schools for a long time. So much so that your predecessor had me believing that Jordan lake was named after him. So I would say to Dr. Jordan, I’m learning the truth. And so we were friends. And so I know the great work that’s gone on here. I know about this amazing leadership team, this veteran leadership team, this is before us. All of the work that you do every day for kids, and that you are passionate about that work.
And so I come as a willing worker with my hands ready to dig in and do the work with you, my sleeves will be rolled up with yours. And we will do what’s right for children every single day.
I want to say a special thank you to all of the teachers. You’re doing a great job, just making sure that our kids are taken care of; that they’ve been taken care of this year. It’s been a tough year for them. And I know that you’ve taken care of them. But every chance I get publicly to say thank you to a teacher, I do so. And I want to say thank you to the teachers for what they’ve done, what they’re going to do, and the work is starting over.
And so I would say to you that as we move forward, I want to ensure you, I am coming first as a learner, then as a leader. I want to learn all the great things that are here. I want to know all of the outstanding things that we’re doing. I also want to find those things that we can work together on to improve. Because I know that if we just put up put together the “P”s as I call them; good people, which I know we already have, exercising great passion around the work with a clear purpose. And that’s the work of this board and myself to really get this get us all on the same page around a clear strategic vision, the possibilities are out there. And I’m open to the work I’m open to doing what’s right for children.
But most of all, I am open open to partnering to make sure the Chatham County Schools are the best schools, not only in this state, not only this nation, but in the universe. That’s my commitment to you; that we can do whatever we want to do, if we believe we can do it. And that’ll be my purpose, my approach and my promise to you that we will work hard for children every day that will work together. And that will help this community deliver on its promise of educating all children to the highest levels.
Thank you again for the opportunity. I look forward to getting to know you and getting to work with you.
Thank you