Jean-Claude Brizard, Senior Advisor and Deputy Director, Superintendent of Schools, nan Mitan Kafoua

Jean-Claude Brizard is Senior Advisor and Deputy Director in US Programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In his role as Senior Advisor he leads the US Program’s P-16 Community Investment Team in their effort to more deeply understand a student's journey from preschool through completion of a post-secondary credential. As Deputy Director for the Washington State Strategy within the Pacific Northwest team, he leads several strategies to support partners to close the racial and economic opportunity gaps in Washington State's educational system as well as support the growth and sustainability of the public charter schools sector in Washington state. He is the former Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools. Prior to his appointment in Chicago, he was Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester, NY School District. Under Mr. Brizard’s leadership, both the Chicago Public Schools and the Rochester City School District saw substantial improvements in student performance. Mr. Brizard’s experiencealso includes a 21-year career as an educator and administrator with theNYC Department of Education. He served as a Regional Superintendent, supervising more than 100 schools in the Borough of Brooklyn and he also served as the system’s Executive Director for its 400 secondary schools. He is a Fellow of the Broad Center, a Fellow of the third class of the Pahara-Aspen Institute Education Fellowship, and a member of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network. A commercial pilot, Mr. Brizard credits his parents—both of whom were educators—with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He is married to Dr. K. Brooke Stafford-Brizard and is the proud father of four beautiful children.

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