JPS Superintendent
Dr. Cedrick Gray, Superintendent
Contact Information
662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-960-8700
Dr. Cedrick Gray has been appointed superintendent by the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees.
Dr. Gray was the superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools in Fayette County, Tennessee where he was considered an agent of educational reform. In his first year as the district’s Lead Educator, Dr. Gray established aggressive strategic goals, a three-year academic plan, and a mantra of “Focus. Commitment. Service.” One of the district’s schools was designated a School of Promise by the State of Tennessee, leading the way in literacy. Under Dr. Gray’s leadership, Fayette County Schools showed extensive improvement on the state Education Department’s 2011 Report Card.
Prior to becoming a superintendent, Dr. Gray was principal of Craigmont Middle School and Lester Pre-K-8 School, both in Memphis, Tennessee. At Craigmont, he was credited for its successful turnaround in culture and academic achievement. During his tenure at Craigmont Middle, Dr. Gray was Mentor Principal for New Leaders for New Schools and was nominated for Principal of the Year in his second year as a school principal. Following two successful years in the school building, he then led the Professional Development efforts for the school district’s 400 principals and assistant principals in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development.
During his tenure as principal of Lester Pre-K-8 School in the Binghampton Community of Memphis, the school made a complete turnaround in climate and culture. Under his leadership, volunteer contributions of time and money increased, resulting in over 1,000 hours of volunteer tutoring and nearly $100,000 for supplies for students. Academically, during the 2010 state writing exam, 81 percent of students on the failing list for writing scored at proficient or advanced levels.
Dr. Gray's other leadership roles in education include the following:
- Past President, Tennessee Association of Middle Schools
- Faculty/Trainer, Association of Middle Level Education’s Leadership Institute
- Fellow, Tennessee School Boards Association Superintendents' Academy
- Board Member/Committee Co-Chair, National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
Dr. Gray's career has been guided by his vision “to embody breakthrough leadership by inspiring others to see the leader in themselves.”
Dr. Gray was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, as a child. He is a 1989 graduate of Wooddale High School in Memphis. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Memphis, and earned his educational specialist and doctorate degrees from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
Accepting his calling to the preaching ministry in 1999 at St. Luke Baptist Church in Memphis, Dr. Gray most recently served as associate minister of his home church, Castalia Baptist. Dr. Gray and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of a daughter, Peyton.