Education Leader Janice Jackson Joins CPI Board to Reshape School Safety

MILWAUKEE, WI – February 10, 2026 – The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), a global leader in de-escalation training, has appointed Dr. Janice K. Jackson, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, to its Board of Directors. The move signals a significant deepening of CPI's commitment to the education sector, bringing a nationally recognized leader with deep, systemic experience into the fold to address the escalating complexities of school safety and student well-being.

Dr. Jackson's appointment comes at a critical time for American schools, which are grappling with rising behavioral incidents, staff burnout, and the need for more effective, non-punitive strategies to create supportive learning environments. Her extensive background is expected to provide invaluable, real-world insight to the Milwaukee-based organization, which has trained over 17 million professionals since its founding in 1980.

A Strategic Alliance for School Safety

The appointment is a clear strategic maneuver to bolster CPI's influence and effectiveness within the K-12 education market. CPI's leadership views Dr. Jackson's expertise not as an addition, but as a core component of its future strategy.

"Janice brings a rare combination of system-level leadership, national perspective, and an understanding of the pressures education leaders face," said Andee Harris, CEO of CPI, in the announcement. "Her work across public education, policy, and the private sector aligns deeply with CPI's mission. Janice's insight will help strengthen our ability to support educators and school communities as they navigate increasingly complex challenges, while staying grounded in care and prevention."

This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Jackson, who emphasized the dual focus required to foster truly safe schools. "Creating safe learning environments requires supporting both students and the adults who serve them," she stated. "CPI's mission reflects that balance, and I'm proud to join an organization so deeply committed to positive outcomes for schools and communities."

This alignment underscores a pivotal shift in the school safety conversation, moving away from purely reactive measures and toward a proactive, holistic model that integrates de-escalation and trauma-informed care into the very fabric of school culture. By bringing Dr. Jackson onto its board, CPI is positioning itself not just as a training provider, but as a key partner for districts aiming to implement systemic change.

From the Front Lines to the Boardroom

Dr. Jackson’s journey provides her with a unique, 360-degree perspective on public education. She is not just a policy expert; she has lived every facet of the system she now helps to shape. A product of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) herself, she began her career as a high school social studies teacher before becoming a founding principal of two highly successful schools. Her leadership ascent culminated in her role as CEO of CPS, the nation's third-largest school district, from 2017 to 2021.

During her tenure as CEO, Dr. Jackson oversaw a budget of $7 billion and led more than 38,000 employees. Her leadership was marked by record-breaking improvements in key metrics, most notably raising the district's high school graduation rate from 55.8% in 2010 to a historic 82.5% in 2020. Her data-driven, equity-focused approach earned national acclaim, with observers like Bill Gates calling her work "a model for the nation." A landmark achievement was the establishment of an Office of Equity in 2018, making Chicago the largest city in the country with such a district-level office dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers. Her ability to navigate complex challenges, including a major teachers' strike and the unprecedented shift to remote learning during the pandemic, further solidified her reputation as a transformational leader.

This extensive, hands-on experience—from managing classroom dynamics to negotiating district-wide policy—gives her unparalleled credibility. She understands the theoretical frameworks of education policy and the practical realities of implementing them in schools with diverse needs and limited resources.

Addressing Today's Complex Classroom Challenges

The need for Dr. Jackson's expertise is underscored by the pressing challenges facing schools today. Recent data highlights a persistent wave of behavioral issues that disrupt learning and threaten the well-being of students and staff alike. In the 2024-2025 school year, behavioral incidents constituted a staggering 88% of all safety alerts in schools, with issues ranging from physical altercations and elopement to chronic classroom disruption.

Furthermore, educators consistently rank bullying and cyberbullying as top safety concerns, and a significant portion of teachers (21%) and principals (15%) report fearing for their own physical safety at school. These statistics paint a picture of an education system under immense strain, where the foundational need for safety is often unmet, hindering academic achievement and contributing to high rates of teacher attrition.

CPI’s programs are designed to directly address these issues by equipping educators with person-centered, trauma-informed de-escalation techniques. The training focuses on recognizing the early warning signs of agitation and intervening with communication strategies that calm and redirect behavior before it escalates into a crisis. By adding Dr. Jackson's system-level perspective, CPI can better tailor these programs to be implemented at scale, ensuring they are not just one-off professional development sessions but are integrated into a district’s core strategy for student support and staff retention.

A New Chapter for Education Policy and Practice

Dr. Jackson's influence extends far beyond her past role at CPS. Her current positions place her at the nexus of education policy, private sector investment, and technology. As the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Education & Society Program, she convenes leaders to tackle the future of education, including the impact of AI and the need for economic preparedness. Simultaneously, her roles as an executive in residence at The Vistria Group, a private equity firm, and Edmentum, an education technology company, give her insight into the financial and technological forces shaping the sector.

This unique combination of roles creates powerful synergies for her position on the CPI board. Her policy work at the Aspen Institute can inform CPI’s curriculum to ensure it aligns with emerging best practices and national standards. Her experience with The Vistria Group and Edmentum provides a window into how technology and strategic investment can be leveraged to deliver training more effectively and to a wider audience.

This appointment is more than a personnel announcement; it represents a convergence of expertise aimed at driving a new chapter in school safety. By combining CPI's four decades of experience in evidence-based training with Dr. Jackson's proven leadership in large-scale, equity-focused education reform, the partnership is poised to advance a more humane, effective, and sustainable approach to creating safe and supportive learning environments for all. Her voice on the board will be crucial in ensuring that de-escalation and crisis prevention are seen not as isolated skills, but as essential components of excellent teaching and successful school administration nationwide.