Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy. Photo by Jessica Turner.
The principal of Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy is a finalist for a districtwide award.
Michael Jackson has led Sudie TAG for the past four years and is up for Dallas ISD’s principal of the year award. During his tenure, the school was ranked No. 6 among Texas elementary schools by U.S. News and World Report.
Jackson is one of two finalists for the choice/magnet school category, and there are two finalists each for elementary and secondary schools. Winners will be announced at the 2021-22 Dallas ISD Educator of the Year Awards on May 10.
Jackson is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. He received a bachelor’s in history from Texas College and a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Right now, he’s working toward his doctorate in education at the University of Texas at Austin’s cooperative superintendency program.
In his 22 years as a DISD employee, Jackson has been a teacher, teacher mentor, basketball coach, grade-level chair, campus instructional coach, AVID (advancement via individual determination) coordinator, assistant principal and principal at elementary and secondary schools.
Among his recognitions are campus teacher of the year and magnet school principal of the year. Jackson has also earned a master principal designation and was included in the chief of schools’ focus group and the superintendent’s principals group.
According to his bio, Jackson’s two favorite mottos are “give people the light, and they will find their way” and “it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
