Karen Jackson, the de facto deputy superintendent of the Milwaukee Public School District, is leaving the District to become director of human resources with the Washington, D.C. school district.

Jackson, the highest-ranking minority at MPS, announced her decision Monday, but it had been rumored throughout the MPS administration buildings for weeks.

The loss of Jackson is a big blow to the District as it struggles to overcome significant budget issues. Jackson, who is director of human resources, leads a broad division that manages the accountability of central services, schools, and evaluations of principals. She also acts as the number two person in charge in MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos’ absence.

Jackson was the runner up to Andrekopoulos, when he was chosen MPS superintendent last August on a 5-4 vote of the MPS Board. Jackson was favored by the minority faction of the board, which is aligned with the Milwaukee Teacher’s union.

“It is a big blow because she is a very well respected administrator,” said a school official. “And it comes at time when MPS needs all the leaders it can get in dealing with the budget situation they have.”

Jeff Spence, president of the Milwaukee School Board, said he had not been informed of Jackson’s departure as of Monday afternoon, but had heard rumors about it in recent weeks. He said it is “big loss” for the District.

“She is a top notch human resources person and I wish her well,” Spence said. “She has been able to do a lot on a number of diverse issues in a large school system. She really has helped build our human resources organization. She is leaving it in better shape than when she came in. I am sure that is what made her attractive to the folks out in Washington, D.C.” A spokeswoman for the District of Columbia Public Schools declined to comment, saying all hiring information had to be released by Superintendent Paul L. Vance’s office. Vance could not be reached for comment.

A source said Jackson was leaving because she did not get the superintendent’s job, but also to be closer to family that lives in North Carolina.

Jackson became human resources director in November 1999. Before that, she held the same position for the Wauwatosa School District from 1997 to 1999. She was director of student services in the Shorewood School District from 1989 to 1996 and associate principal at Whitefish Bay High School from 1984 to 1989.

She has a reputation as an effective administrator who is careful about internal politics - including dealings with board members. She has not appeared in front of the School Board often, although teacher shortages have become a consistent problem for MPS.

Jackson is married to Aquine Jackson, MPS' director of neighborhood schools, who is also expected to leave his position to move to Washington, D.C.

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