Atlanta, GA, July 10 2014 — David Jernigan, Executive Director of the KIPP Metro Atlanta network of charter schools, has been named the Deputy Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools (the number two leadership position in the system), pending board approval next week.
Jernigan, who led KIPP Metro Atlanta for the past 12 years, has served as a board member of the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) for the past 2 years, and was the winner of GCSA’s 2012 “Shoot for the Moon,” charter leadership award.
“In choosing David, Atlanta’s new Superintendent, Dr. Meria Carstarphen, has made a superb choice which further underscores her strong commitment to improving the educational options available to children in APS,” said Dr. Tony Roberts, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “We commend Dr. Carstarphen for this strategic choice and congratulate David on this new position.”
“We expect David will help bridge the knowledge and experience gap between charter schools and what makes them successful and other public schools who might benefit from the lessons learned about what works for students and what does not. He will always be a powerful advocate for students and doing the right thing for them, first and foremost. And he will be a strategic thinker and planner to help lead APS,” Roberts added.
At KIPP Metro Atlanta, Kinnari Patel-Smyth, formerly the Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Metro will succeed David as Executive Director.
