Lois Harrison-Jones

Lois Harrison-Jones is an American school administrator and academic who served as superintendent of Richmond Public Schools and Boston Public Schools. She was the first female superintendent in Richmond and the first black female superintendent in Virginia and Boston.[1]

Early life

Harrison-Jones was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.[1] She earned degrees from Virginia State College, Temple University, and Virginia Tech.[2]

Career

Harrison-Jones began her teaching career in 1954 as a sixth-grade teacher and worked her way up through the Richmond Public School system to the position of assistant superintendent for elementary education. In 1985 she was chosen to succeed Richard Hunter as Richmond's superintendent of schools.[1] At the time of her appointment she was one of only 24 black women superintendents in the United States, the first black female superintendent in Virginia, and the first female superintendent in Richmond.[1][3] In 1988 she left Richmond to become the associate superintendent for education of the Dallas Independent School District.[4]

On May 14, 1991, Harrison-Jones was named superintendent of Boston Public Schools.[2] During her tenure in Boston, student drop-out and suspension rates dropped, the Center for Leadership Development and six pilot schools were developed, and school-to-career programs were expanded.[5] In February 1995, school committee members informed Harrison-Jones that they did not plan on extending her contract and she agreed not to contest her removal. She left office on June 30, 1995.[6]

While in Boston, Harrison-Jones also served as a professor at Harvard University. She later taught at Howard University.[7]

References
  1. "Dr. Lois Harrison-Jones is Va.'s 'first lady' of education". Afro-American. March 9, 1985.
  2. "Boston Ends Long Search for Schools Chief". The New York Times. May 15, 1991.
  3. Jaquith, Olivia (March 3, 2021). "Academic trailblazer speaks at virtual RPS Women's History Month event". WRIC. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. Williams, Michael Paul (August 6, 1988). "School Chief Here Takes Job in Dallas". Richmond Times - Dispatch.
  5. Hart, Jordana (June 30, 1995). "Harrison-Jones ends rocky 4-year tenure today". The Boston Globe.
  6. Walker, Adrian (February 17, 1995). "A pressured school chief says she'll go in June post". The Boston Globe.
  7. "Superb Woman: Dr. Lois Harrison-Jones". Texas Metro News. May 28, 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
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