McKinney, Texas – McKinney ISD has named Aretha Jackson its new Senior Director of Legal Affairs. The announcement represents a return to MISD for Jackson who served in the district from 2010–2019. For the past four years, she has served as the principal of Kerr Elementary in Allen ISD.

As the Senior Director of Legal Affairs, Jackson will primarily oversee public information requests, grievances and other legal matters. She brings to the position 26 years of experience in education in a wide variety of educational roles.

“I am thrilled to have Mrs. Jackson return to McKinney ISD as the Senior Director of Legal Affairs,” said Shelly Spaulding, Assistant Superintendent of Public Relations and Communications. “I have had the privilege of working with Mrs. Jackson, in a variety of capacities for many years now, and she has a track record of success and excellence in every position she has served in. She will be an incredible asset to McKinney ISD, and I look forward to serving alongside her and watching her excel in this position.”

Jackson began her career in Gainesville, Texas where she taught at the elementary level for 13 years. While in Gainesville, she also taught continuing education courses at the collegiate level with North Central Texas College and Grayson County Community College.

In 2010, Jackson relocated to McKinney with her family and over the following 9 years served as a teacher at Vega Elementary, an instructional coach at Press Elementary, and an assistant principal at Dowell Middle School. In 2019, Jackson accepted the principalship at Kerr Elementary.

During the same year, Jackson completed her superintendent certification through Region 10, and in the summer of 2021 was selected to participate in an extensive leadership training program with the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

As a member of this Harvard University cohort, Jackson applied and was selected to serve as a Principal Fellow, and she spent the next nine months traveling to the state Capitol where she learned advocacy skills and advanced her knowledge of education policy.

Now, she returns to MISD in a new role.

“I am so excited and grateful for the amazing opportunity to come home and serve the district I love and in which I reside, as the Senior Director of Legal Affairs,” said Jackson. “Having spent nine years in MISD in the past, and having three nieces currently enrolled at three different schools within MISD, I realized not only is this decision right for me professionally, it is also right for me personally.”

Jackson earned her undergraduate degree and teacher certification in elementary education from Texas A&M University–Commerce in 1997. She returned to her alma mater in 2014 and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership.

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