Jacquelyn joined the CDE Foundation in January 2020. She is a committed educator with extensive experience teaching and leading in PreK-College education at the school, district, university, and state levels. She was a mathematics teacher, school Principal and Vice Principal. At the state level, Jacquelyn supported and coordinated numerous impactful projects at the California Department of Education (CDE) including the State Superintendent Torlakson’s Task Force on School Conditions and Climate Workgroup. The Task Force’s recommendation framework is the impetus for much of the recent work on school climate including the adoption of several recommendations by the State Board of Education and the $15 million budget allocation for school climate in California’s 2018 budget. She also supported State Superintendent Thurmond’s Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative and served as the Education Administrator of the Department’s Equity Office. In May 2019, Jacquelyn earned her doctorate at the University of the Pacific with researching the extent of the effect of compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary trauma) on teachers in California urban schools. She specifically looked at the impact compassion fatigue has on
teachers; perceptions of their schools; climate and working conditions, ways in which we can support teachers suffering from compassion fatigue, and its effect on teacher retention in urban schools. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Pacific, Gladys L. Benerd School of Education. She lives in Northern California with her husband, three stepchildren, and her dog Seo. Pronouns: she/her/hers

Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
My favorite teacher is my 12 th grade English Teacher, Laura Watson. Ms. Watson was kind, caring, smart, and she made learning come alive. Her classroom was a haven for me, especially at lunchtime. After I became a teacher, I had the pleasure of working with her as a colleague at a middle school and then again at the California Department of Education where we continued our tradition of having lunch together at least once a week until she retired. Ms. Watson’s teaching style greatly influenced my own teaching style. She showed me that teachers are human and that positive teacher-student relationships, both socially and emotionally, are essential for student success. I am forever grateful to Ms. Watson’s friendship and influence on me personally and professionally.

What’s my superpower? My superpower is my unwavering faith in knowing that all is well, in good times and in bad. My faith compels me to work to make sure that that all students (cradle to career) have the best education possible.

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther
King, Jr.