Dallas ISD celebrates teaching excellence by recognizing outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of students every day. Meet 2021-2022 Principal of the Year finalist Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson has served as the founding principal of Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy for the last four years. A native Dallasite and proud Dallas ISD graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, he is especially proud to serve as an educator in his home community. He is an honors graduate (summa cum laude) of Texas College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in history, a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of Texas at Austin, as a fellow in the Cooperative Superintendency Program.
Inspired by his own teachers, he is a 22-year veteran educator, having served as a teacher, teacher mentor, basketball coach, grade-level chair, campus instructional coach, AVID coordinator, assistant principal, and principal (elementary and secondary) – all in Dallas ISD.
On his journey, he has been recognized as a Campus Teacher of the Year, Magnet School Principal of the Year, and earned Master Principal designation. He has also served on the Chief of Schools’ Focus Group, the Superintendent’s Principals Group, and has presented on various aspects of leadership in the district and surrounding communities through Region 10.
When he was assistant principal, his school won the National Blue Ribbon Award for achievement from the U.S. Department of Education, and most recently, Sudie L. Williams TAG Academy has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the #6 ranked elementary school in the state of Texas. His motive has always been to “pay it forward, as the students deserve it” and his two favorite mottos are: “Give the people light, and they will find their way” and “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
Michael Jackson is one of the 2021-2022 Choice Principal of the Year finalists. From the finalists, one principal will be selected from each category to represent Dallas ISD as Principal of the Year. Winners will be announced at the inaugural 2021-2022 Dallas ISD Educator of the Year Awards, in partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation, presented by Reliant at the Statler Hotel on May 10, 2022.
View the full list of the 2021-2022 Principal of the Year finalists here.
