“Every child is a work of art. Create a masterpiece.”
Jean-Claude Brizard is Chief Executive of the Chicago Public Schools. The Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 409,000 students in more than 670 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school system. Prior to his appointment in Chicago, he was Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester City School District (Rochester, NY), a position he held for three years.
“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 saw improvements in student performance. More students met standards in English Language Arts and Math, and the district saw a 12-point increase in its four-year high school graduation rate. It also strengthened its portfolio of schools, offering students and families more high-quality school choices to meet student needs.
Mr. Brizard’s experience also includes a 21-year career as an educator and administrator with the New York City Department of Education. 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:
- Executive Director for Secondary Schools
- Region 8 Instructional Superintendent
- High school principal
- High school physics teacher
- 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 a former Executive Committee member of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Founded in 1865, AASA is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries.
Mr. Brizard was named a Fellow of the Aspen Institute NewSchools Venture Fund’s prestigious Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program 
. He is one of 24 accomplished leaders who have joined the Aspen Institute’s Global Network. The fellowship is designed to recognize and support exceptional entrepreneurial leaders who are committed to transforming public education. He is also a member of the Aspen Institute Urban Superintendents’ network. This group is led by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University and the Harvard University School of Education. A Trustee of The Field Museum of Chicago, Member of the Board of Directors for the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems and an Ex-Officio Trustee of the Adler Planetarium of Chicago, Mr. Brizard shows that he understands his civic responsibilities.
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 with honors 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 Stafford-Brizard and is the proud father of two beautiful children.