about
Earl Watkins, Ph.D.
The career of Dr. Earl Watkins has included roles, such as adjunct professor of educational leadership at Jackson State University, math curriculum coordinator, principal of a middle and high school, formerly Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, and Conservator of two Mississippi school districts. Under Dr. Watkins’ leadership as the superintendent in Jackson, JPS passed a $150 million bond referendum with an approval exceeding 80% of the voters. In addition to leading the district to full accreditation by the Mississippi Department of Education, the district was awarded the highest level of accreditation that can be given to a school district by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, and the district came out of school improvement as noted by No Child Left Behind with 96% of all schools meeting adequate yearly progress. During the 2004 regular legislative session, the Mississippi Senate recognized Dr. Watkins with the Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 530 for his courageous and bold leadership to reorganize and improve one of Jackson’s high schools. In 2006, Dr. Watkins was named Mississippi’s Superintendent of the Year by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators. During the 2007 Winter Conference of PREPS, he received the Dan Merritt Courage Award.
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Why leading2leap
Regardless of a community’s demographics, children deserve the very best that can be provided to ensure their success. At Leading2Leap, LLC, we believe that, through collaboration and leadership at all levels of the school system, we synergize the collective power and capacity that already exist to positively impact and sustain the trajectory of academic achievement and career readiness of students who are served by our system of schooling. Schools don't exist in a vacuum, and therefore, the problems that schools face won't be solved in a vacuum. Effective, accountable, and transparent leadership by school boards, school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, and community partners in an aligned system is necessary to create spaces where children are engaged in ways that demonstrate our belief that they deserve the very best in their educational experiences.
We can do this!
Through high expectations, capacity-building, strategic use of data and resources, and transparent leadership and engagement of all stakeholders, we can make public schools work for all children! The zip code does not determine a child's success. We do!!!