LaToya Blackshear
LaToya Blackshear drives strategic planning and evaluation efforts at Jackson Public Schools, leading data-informed approaches that support academic growth and accountability. Over the course of her 25-year career, she has served as a classroom teacher, principal, and state-level leader—most notably implementing Mississippi’s K–3 early literacy assessment system. Named District Leader of the Year in 2022, she brings clarity, rigor, and a deep belief in students’ potential to every facet of her work.