Jay Jackson, Ed.D.

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Jay Jackson is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (CA) and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. A lifelong educator, Jay spent 37 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), serving in a variety of roles including teacher, counselor, school psychologist, and administrator in psychological services. These positions provided her with a wide range of rewarding, exciting, and challenging experiences.

A native New Yorker, Jay earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Barnard College. After relocating to Los Angeles, she earned master’s degrees in Counselor Education from CSU Los Angeles and in Administration from Pepperdine University. She later completed a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University. Jay has served as an adjunct professor of education at CSU Northridge, CSU Dominguez Hills, and Pepperdine University, and she is currently a part-time instructor and practicum supervisor in the school psychology program at Loyola Marymount University.

As a student in New York City’s public school system, Jay discovered early on that she wanted to be a teacher, participating in the city’s Future Teacher programs throughout middle and high school. Not long after beginning her teaching career, she expanded her focus to include the social-emotional development of children, eventually transitioning into leadership and systems-level work in education.

Jay’s vision for compassionate educational environments has been deeply shaped by her lived experiences: growing up in a working-class family, being educated in a rigorous public school system, and serving diverse communities throughout Los Angeles. She believes in building school communities that celebrate humanity, embrace diversity, and promote social justice practices to advance educational equity.

Her academic research and professional practice are grounded in positive psychology and strength-based approaches, which she uses to empower students, parents, and educators alike.

Dr. Jay Jackson is honored to be a part of Sycamore Community School and is proud to support its mission of academic excellence and personal growth for all students.