Jean-Claude Brizard

Jean-Claude Brizard is senior advisor and deputy director in the United States Program. In his role as senior advisor, he leads the program’s P-16 Community Investment Team in their effort to more deeply understand a student's journey from preschool through completion of a post-secondary credential. As deputy director for Washington State on the Pacific Northwest Team, he leads several strategies to support partners to close the racial and economic opportunity gaps in Washington’s educational system as well as support the growth and sustainability of the public charter schools sector.

Prior to his current role, Jean-Claude was a senior fellow for Strategy, Planning and Management at the foundation where he focused on supporting the execution of a local proof point to close the achievement and opportunity gaps in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, as well as, advising the K-12 Education team on strategy. He was a partner at FourPoint Education Group (formerly Cross & Joftus, LLC) where he focused on two practice areas–a unique, collaborative structure that supported the work of many state departments of education and public school districts as they sought to turn around chronically failing school systems, and a practice area focused on education to career.

Jean-Claude is the former chief executive of Chicago Public Schools, and prior to his appointment in Chicago, he was superintendent of schools for the Rochester, New York School District. Under Jean-Claude’s leadership, both Chicago Public Schools and the Rochester, New York School District saw substantial improvements in student performance. His experience also includes a 21-year career as an educator and administrator with the NYC Department of Education. There, he was a regional superintendent, supervising more than 100 schools in the borough of Brooklyn. He also served as the system’s executive director for secondary schools. Jean-Claude is a fellow of the Broad Center, a fellow of the third class of the Pahara-Aspen Institute Education Fellowship, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

A commercial pilot and a native of Haiti, Jean-Claude credits his parents—both of whom were educators—with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He is married to Dr. K. Brooke Stafford-Brizard and is the proud father of four beautiful children.