Can't Tell the Players Without a Scorecard!

I've been at this edu-blogging thing for nearly two years; I'd like to believe I have a fairly good handle on the reformy scene here in Jersey. I'd like to think that I know the players, the connections, the whole tomato pie...

So it's more than a little embarrassing to admit I had no idea that Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) - the big dog in education reforminess before B4K hit town - has a new President and CEO: Christy Davis Jackson.

Some of you long-time NJ politicos are saying: "Wait a minute - the Christy Davis Jackson?"

Yep:

Excellent Education for Everyone (E3), which has been devoting itself to the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act, has just announced that it has a new President and CEO: Christy Davis Jackson, Esq. Ms. Davis Jackson will fill the shoes of the late Dan Gaby, E3’s much beloved chief executive.

Ms. Davis Jackson served as Chief of Staff to Wynona Lipman (a former Essex County Senator), was Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s State Director, and managed Jon Corzine’s senatorial campaign. She is married to Reverend Reginald Jackson, who served on E3’s Board. Rev. Jackson has resigned to avoid any conflict with his wife’s new role.

From the press release:

Ms. Davis Jackson said she views the CEO position at E3 as “… a unique opportunity to bring broad-based support to E3’s education reform proposals, including parental school choice, high academic standards, a revised and improved school funding formula, and proper treatment of teachers - - including tenure reform, performance based pay, and protection from political pressures.” She went on to say that she looked forward to the challenge of getting all stakeholders in New Jersey public education to focus on the needs of children as their first priority.

Correction: E3's press release refers to “E3’s long time CEO, Dan Gaby.” In fact, Dan Gaby was E3’s Executive Director (see this tribute in PolitickerNJ). After Gaby’s death two years ago, Derrell Bradford succeeded him as E3’s Executive Director. Bradford is now Executive Director of B4K.

This post is from the very reformy blogger Laura Waters, who also serves as the President of the Lawrence Township BOE. I Googled the you-know-what out of this story, and this is the ONLY report I could find about Jackson's appointment. Was this not released to the mainstream press? Did it only get sent out to reformy types like Waters?

Because the Jackson family has quite a colorful past:

- She was right in the middle of the scandal at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; a scandal that helped Chris Christie build his corruption fighting creds back in 2005 before he ran for governor.

- Her husband, Reverend Reginald Jackson, was at the center of a controversy when Corzine gave him $87,000 in donations; Jackson turned around and endorsed his failed  gubernatorial reelection bid.

- Hillary Clinton turned down Davis Jackson's money in 2008 when she ran in the presidential primary.

- Reginald Jackson, as president of the Black Ministers council of NJ, has had a great influence on the education policies of New Jersey.

Now Davis Jackson takes over as the CEO of the biggest voucher pusher in the state. And - if we believe Waters (who is many things but not, as far as I have ever seen, a liar) - her appointment is announced without so much as an acknowledgment of Derrell Bradford as her predecessor. Hmm....

I'm just stunned Davis Jackson's appointment has garnered so little attention. Voucher legislation is closer to passing than it has ever been; no group has pushed for this harder the E3. How does the group get a new CEO with a past like Christy Davis Jackson's with so little notice?

ADDING: Oh, my...