Ypsilanti schools' Emma Jackson to become PR director at WISD as longtime employee retires after 25 years
Ypsilanti schools’ public relations director is leaving to fill the same position at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, after a longtime employee retires.
Emma Jackson, who has been with Ypsilanti Public Schools for about seven years, will have her last day on June 8. Gerri Allen, the WISD’s current PR director, is retiring at the end of June.
Allen has worked for the WISD since 1987. For the 2010-11 school year, the last year Allen was full-time, her salary was $102,700, according to school officials.
Emma Jackson
From Facebook
If approved, Jackson will be hired at an annual salary of $89,520.60, school officials said. She currently makes $63,240 at Ypsilanti.
Jackson said while there are a number of similarities between her current role at YPS and the role she will fill at the WISD, it will be on more of a “global” scale.
“Instead of one district, the focus is broader,” she said. “There will be an emphasis placed on what is going on at the state level and informing districts of its impact. I also will be promoting a variety of programs that touch most of the districts in the county.
"I am looking forward to this natural progression in my career," she added.
Ypsilanti Superintendent Dedrick Martin described Jackson’s departure as “a huge loss" for the district and "a great gain for the WISD.”
He said Ypsilanti will not be filling Jackson’s position because of the district's current financial situation. As a result, the WISD and Ann Arbor Public Schools will be the only public school systems to have public relations directors next year.
“Because of her, people have an elevated expectation of communication and response time that doesn’t typically happen in a district our size,” he said. “We are going to try to split up her responsibilities as much as possible.
“(Jackson) did a lot to help us elevate the image and the brand of an Ypsilanti public education through some very difficult years for us — both financially and academically," Martin continued. "…At a time when we would like to explore consolidation (with Willow Run) it is going to be a challenge for us, as we try to downsize and communicate the best we can… It is clearly going to be a big loss.”
Jackson said it was a privilege to serve Ypsilanti Public Schools, and she intends to continue to work closely with both Ypsilanti and Willow Run throughout the potential consolidation.
“There are many dedicated, genuine and caring people in Ypsilanti and I will be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to work along side of them and to tell their story,” she said.
The WISD has played a key role in facilitating merger discussions from the beginning, and Jackson anticipates that will continue and that she will be aiding communication efforts around the possible merger in the near future.
Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
A2default
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 6:39 p.m.
WISD had a PR Director? Are you kidding? So with the debacle of the school bus service at the beginning of this academic year, where was Gerri Allen in the community meetings? AAPS and WISD chose to cut bus services giving parents two weeks notice till the start of school, and then they have a classic crisis management situation with the reaction from outraged parents. Communication management was Very poorly handled.
In doubt
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
Seems like PR should be part of the Superintendent's job, or at least the Asst. Superintendent's job. In my opinion, public schools don't need either position of PR or Asst. Super. They need to balance their budgets with cuts in Administration and their salaries. They have cut teachers, support staff, transportation, and extra ciriculars, and supplies that they buy, how much cutting have we heard of Administrators taking? Instead they dump over a million into their Ad building and keep all their pretty little percs.
ypsilistener
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
I can't count how many times I have heard people complain about how the negative things about the school district crowd out the many positive things happening here, and how the district should do more to promote the good. That doesn't just happen--it takes a lot of work, and our district has truly benefited from Ms. Jackson's efforts these past seven years. Just watch and see how fast communication falls apart once this position disappears. Best wishes to Ms. Jackson at WISD! You will be missed!
lumberg48108
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
in the case for transparency, can we verify this position was posted at WISD before it was filled? I get lots of PR job postings sent to me and I never came across this listing I am sure it was posted, but would like to see it
lumberg48108
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
Thanks for the link - seems like it was a quasi internal search and post given I did not read the post anywhere else ... not saying that is bad or improper but it sure seems like the process was quiet emma will do great but the real loss is to YPS -- they need all the good PR they can get and with a merger pending with Willow Run, they will need a trained communications professional to keep the message strategy in place through out the process - not someone else will have to deal with that issue and its is likely not their skill set - should be interesting
Leah Gerweck
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
https://www.applitrack.com/washtenaw/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?AppliTrackJobId=226
alarictoo
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
I am familiar with both Emma Jackson and Liz Margolis. AAPS should have hired Emma away from Ypsi if they could have. The truly unfortunate part is, if you check annarbor.com findings on salaries, Margolis will still be making more than Jackson.
treetowncartel
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
There needs to be a change to the benefits of Public Employees in the state. If you move to a different Public Employer you should not be entitled to two, and in some cases more than two sets of benefits and pensions.
treetowncartel
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
I'd like to hear from Ms. Jackson acknowledge that she is foregoing all of her benefits that she is entitled to from they YPSD for the rest of her life.
ypsilistener
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
Because she is resigning--not retiring--from Ypsi (which means giving up her pay and benefits from there) and going to work at WISD (which means receiving pay and benefits from there). What am I missing here??
treetowncartel
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
What makes you think she isn't?
ypsilistener
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Yes, they are. Why do you think Ms. Jackson will be collecting from both entities?
treetowncartel
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.
Ypsi and WISD aren't Public Employers?
ypsilistener
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
How did you get that idea from this story?
annarboral
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.
Why do we need a PR Director for public schoiols? This is a waste of over $100,000 per year. When schools say they don't have enough money and then you see this, it explains it all. Schools need teachers not administrators.
In doubt
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 5:41 p.m.
Amen!
jns131
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
Ann Arbor has Liz Margolis. I guess Ypsi didn't want to be left out?