HARTFORD, Conn. — Dr. Melissa Jenkins has been appointed to the role of chief turnaround officer by the State Board of Education, as was announced by Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker on Wednesday.
Jenkins will be tasked with leading efforts to identify, develop and implement a variety of intervention, transformation, support and accountability strategies for schools and districts throughout the state. She will look to strengthen leadership support, instructional methods, community involvement and school climate enhancement while also supervising the Commissioner’s Network and the state’s Alliance District program, the board said.
"Education has been my life's passion, and I am committed to ensuring that every child has equitable access to a high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances," Jenkins said, according to the board.
Russell-Tucker noted that Jenkins has more than 20 years of experience as an award-winning education leader, during which time she demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, curriculum development and educational innovation.
“We are confident that her passion, dedication and proven track record will effectively lead our Turnaround Office in support of districts and schools,” Russell-Tucker said, according to the board.
In the position, Jenkins will continue working to ensure that every child has access to high-quality education and the tools they need to reach their full potential, the board said, adding that she began her journey in education as a classroom teacher, where she “experienced firsthand the transformative power of education in shaping young minds.”
Jenkins most recently served as chief academic officer for Bridgeport Public Schools, where she established standardized operating procedures for K6-literacy instruction across 28 schools while collaborating with approximately 600 teachers and 50 administrators.
According to the board, she also developed a K-12 teacher leadership program aimed at improving internal communication, managed $7 million for academic programs, prioritized equity for diverse student needs, developed and executed a professional development plan for 37 schools to implement CT Core Instructional Shifts and supervised literacy coaches, implementing a student-centered coaching model.
Jenkins additionally launched performance task assessments for two middle schools and seven high schools, which resulted in a 74% increase in students’ writing proficiency, the board said.
Previously, Jenkins served in Bridgeport as executive director of Early Childhood, director of Literacy for Grades K-12 and principal of High Horizons Magnet School. She was also an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University, among the many positions in the educational field she held in Connecticut.
Over the course of her career, Jenkins has received the Prudence C. Randall Education Award, the Connecticut Reading Association’s Reading Administrator Award, the Bridgeport Public Education Fund’s George Bellinger Leadership Award, and the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Education Policy Fellowship.
Following the board meeting in which she was appointed on Wednesday, Jenkins shared gratitude with its members for selecting her to the position.
"I am grateful for the trust placed in me by Commissioner Russell-Tucker and the State Board of Education, and I look forward to working collaboratively with educators, stakeholders, and community members to create brighter futures and infinite possibilities for our students,” Jenkins said, according to the board.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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