Jesus Jara, former superintendent of Clark County School District (CCSD), one of the largest in the United States, recently stepped down from his position after nearly six years of service. His decision to leave came after a period of intense scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders.
Key factors in Jara's decision to step away include:
- Personal loss: The death of his mother in January 2024 significantly impacted his perspective on his role and the ongoing conflicts.
- Constant criticism: Jara faced withering criticism from state lawmakers, teachers, labor groups, and parents.
- Political pressure: Top legislators publicly called for his resignation or firing.
- Mutual agreement: After discussions with School Board President Evelyn Garcia Morales, both decided it was time for Jara to leave.
Jara's departure was framed as an "amicable separation" with a negotiated $250,000 severance package. Despite the controversies surrounding his tenure, Jara believes he left CCSD in better shape structurally than he found it, citing improvements in curriculum systems, financial health, and increased enrollment of Black and Latino students in advanced coursework.
Former Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara has landed a new job at a tech company, just five months after he resigned as the leader of the nationā€™s fifth largest school district.
Prometric, a technology-driven global assessment services provider, announced it had hired Jara as its K-12 global practice leader who will guide the companyā€™s expansion into that education sector following its acquisition of EdPower, a software company that offers a suite of products designed to improve student improvement through evaluation and gap analysis.
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