Catherine Jackson
Since her first child entered the Branford Schools, Catherine Jackson has been a tireless, enthusiastic and effective supporter of education in Branford, parental involvement and empowerment in the education process and, in general, a statewide advocate for children and families.
Catherine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965. Her early career included work as assistant editor and columnist for the Aspen (Colorado) Illustrated News and the Mountain Gazette. Later, while traveling extensively, she worked in a Bangladesh refugee camp under Mother Theresa.
Upon making Branford home in 1972 after living in Montreal (becoming fluent in French), she began writing feature articles for the New Haven Advocate, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Parent , Shoreline Times, The Bridge (a special needs magazine), Yale Nurse and The Branford Review. In 1976, she incorporated and became the Coordinator for Consumers for Choices in Childbirth, a parent advocacy and educational organization which was directly responsible for the inclusion of the Family Childbirth Center at Yale New Haven Hospital.
After receiving her MS degree in Public Health from Yale Medical School in 1983, she directed New Haven Healthy Start and then was Director of Maternal and Child Health at the New Haven Health Department for five years, during which time the infant mortality rate in the City was greatly reduced. Later, she directed the Connecticut Medicaid Managed Care program at PHS/Health Net until 2009.
When her first two children began attending the Branford Public Schools, Catherine became involved in PTA activities, initiating newsletters to and for parents at the John B. Sliney School and then founding the Quill newsletter at the Branford Intermediate School. In addition, she researched and published numerous education feature articles in The Branford Review, with the purpose of promoting public and parental appreciation of positive innovations among the faculty and staff of the Branford Public Schools.
Catherine first ran for the Board of Education in 1986 (with her toddler Rachel riding on her shoulders) urged to become an activist parent by the then principal of the JBSS, Herbert Gruendel. The thrust of her tenure on the Board was to create an atmosphere of excellence in education, its importance to the well-being of the Town and to promote the involvement and empowerment of parents in the education of their children. She served three terms, with six years as Chairwoman of the Board.
In addition, Catherine served as Facilitator for the Branford Early Childhood Education Collaborative, was a board member of the Branford Education Foundation, was a teacher for the Parent Leadership Training Institute and People Empowering People and was a moderator for the Greater New Haven Community Forum.
Catherine and her husband, Peter have three children who graduated from Branford High School: Reuben, an architect in New York City; Shana, a professor of Special Education at the University of Vermont; and Rachel, a Smith graduate working at a Boston law firm and preparing for law school.
In 2010, Catherine received TESOL certification, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, from Southern Connecticut State University and, in a very active retirement, teaches English as a Second Language at New Haven Adult Education while still devoting time to spend with her six grandchildren. Currently she is developing a common core curriculum for new Transition to College for adult English learners.
Catherine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965. Her early career included work as assistant editor and columnist for the Aspen (Colorado) Illustrated News and the Mountain Gazette. Later, while traveling extensively, she worked in a Bangladesh refugee camp under Mother Theresa.
Upon making Branford home in 1972 after living in Montreal (becoming fluent in French), she began writing feature articles for the New Haven Advocate, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Parent , Shoreline Times, The Bridge (a special needs magazine), Yale Nurse and The Branford Review. In 1976, she incorporated and became the Coordinator for Consumers for Choices in Childbirth, a parent advocacy and educational organization which was directly responsible for the inclusion of the Family Childbirth Center at Yale New Haven Hospital.
After receiving her MS degree in Public Health from Yale Medical School in 1983, she directed New Haven Healthy Start and then was Director of Maternal and Child Health at the New Haven Health Department for five years, during which time the infant mortality rate in the City was greatly reduced. Later, she directed the Connecticut Medicaid Managed Care program at PHS/Health Net until 2009.
When her first two children began attending the Branford Public Schools, Catherine became involved in PTA activities, initiating newsletters to and for parents at the John B. Sliney School and then founding the Quill newsletter at the Branford Intermediate School. In addition, she researched and published numerous education feature articles in The Branford Review, with the purpose of promoting public and parental appreciation of positive innovations among the faculty and staff of the Branford Public Schools.
Catherine first ran for the Board of Education in 1986 (with her toddler Rachel riding on her shoulders) urged to become an activist parent by the then principal of the JBSS, Herbert Gruendel. The thrust of her tenure on the Board was to create an atmosphere of excellence in education, its importance to the well-being of the Town and to promote the involvement and empowerment of parents in the education of their children. She served three terms, with six years as Chairwoman of the Board.
In addition, Catherine served as Facilitator for the Branford Early Childhood Education Collaborative, was a board member of the Branford Education Foundation, was a teacher for the Parent Leadership Training Institute and People Empowering People and was a moderator for the Greater New Haven Community Forum.
Catherine and her husband, Peter have three children who graduated from Branford High School: Reuben, an architect in New York City; Shana, a professor of Special Education at the University of Vermont; and Rachel, a Smith graduate working at a Boston law firm and preparing for law school.
In 2010, Catherine received TESOL certification, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, from Southern Connecticut State University and, in a very active retirement, teaches English as a Second Language at New Haven Adult Education while still devoting time to spend with her six grandchildren. Currently she is developing a common core curriculum for new Transition to College for adult English learners.