“Every child is a work of art. Create a masterpiece.”
Jean-Claude Brizard is Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester City School District, a position he has held since January 2, 2008. He leads a district serving more than 32,000 students in pre-K through grade 12 and 10,000 adult students.
“Every child brings a wealth of talent, gifts, and potential to us,” Mr. Brizard says. “They also bring dreams, aspirations, struggles, and needs. We must embrace that talent and potential and equip every student with an education that draws forth their unique talents (the masterpiece) that lies within each of them.”
Under Mr. Brizard’s leadership, the Rochester City School District is seeing improvements in student performance. More students are meeting standards in English Language Arts and Math, and the district has seen a 13-point increase in its four-year high school graduation rate (2008). It is also strengthening its portfolio of schools, offering students and families more high-quality school choices to meet student needs.
Mr. Brizard’s experience includes a 21-year career as an educator and administrator with the New York City Department of Education. Prior to coming to Rochester, he served as a Regional Superintendent, supervising more than 100 K-12 schools serving over 100,000 students in three New York City geographic districts. His positions in New York City also included:
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Executive Director for Secondary Schools
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Region 8 Instructional Superintendent
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High school principal
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High school physics teacher
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Junior high school science teacher
Mr. Brizard is a graduate of the Superintendents’ Academy of the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems. The program is a 10-month executive management training program preparing top executives from the business, non-profit, military, government, and education sectors to lead urban public school systems. He is also an Executive Committee member of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Founded in 1865, AASA is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries.
A commercial pilot and a native of Haiti, Mr. Brizard credits his parents—both of whom were educators—with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He holds a Master’s Degree in School Administration & Supervision from The City College of New York and a Master’s Degree in Science Education from Queens College, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Queens College.
He is married to K. Brooke Brizard and is the proud father of two beautiful children.
