celebrating leadership

The Saginaw Intermediate School District congratulates Sabrina Jackson, Director of Early Childhood, for being selected to participate in Cohort 17 of the Gerstacker Fellowship program. Ms. Jackson was chosen from many exceptional leaders in the Great Lakes Bay Region and will use this experience to grow her leadership skills and build relationships with other regional educators. "I am profoundly honored to have been chosen as a participant in the Gerstacker Fellowship Program. I am excited to embark on this journey, eager to learn from the esteemed mentors and cohort members, and committed to making the most of this invaluable experience," Ms. Jackson said. 

Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Collier nominated Ms. Jackson for the Gerstacker Fellowship and added, "Sabrina Jackson's selection for the Gerstacker Fellowship Program further illustrates her recognized and focused dedication to early childhood education leadership in Saginaw County. We are proud of her fellowship selection and anticipate the innovative contributions she will bring to our community following this enriching experience." Cohort 17 of the Gerstacker Fellowship begins in the Fall of 2023. 

ABOUT SABRINA JACKSON

Sabrina Jackson is the Director of Early Childhood Services for the Saginaw Intermediate School District. With 25 years of professional experience in early childhood education, Sabrina is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families through early childhood education, parent education, and advocacy.

Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University and a Master of Education degree specializing in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. Sabrina was a Head Start Management Fellow through the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2013 and a 2018 graduate of the Leadership Saginaw cohort, sponsored by the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. Sabrina holds various certifications in leadership, planning, organizational development, program assessment, and family services. 

On behalf of the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO) and the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Sabrina mentors new directors. She has been a member of the Saginaw County Community Action Committee Board for four years, which provides services and resources to low-income families within Saginaw County. 

Sabrina began her career in educational administration in 1997 and has held various administration positions, becoming the Head Start Program Director in 2003. She continued as the Head Start Program Director when she joined the Saginaw Intermediate School District in 2006 and was promoted to Director of Early Childhood Services in 2021. Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and learning new things.  

ABOUT THE GERSTACKER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: 

The Gerstacker Fellowship Program was established in 2005 with a $1.5 million endowment by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation. Its purpose is twofold: to provide a leadership development program for a select group of premier teachers and administrators each year and to create a new cadre of educational leaders throughout the State of Michigan who will increase the quality of K-12 education in their communities.

In 2011, the Board of Directors of the Gerstacker Foundation, acknowledging the success of the Gerstacker Fellowship Program, recognized that this initial leadership development opportunity to maximize its full potential required a sustained and advanced leadership endeavor. Consequently, the Board of Directors approved the endowment of an additional $1 million to fund the fulfillment of that initiative for all graduates of the Gerstacker Fellowship Program.

The initial leadership development is now known as Gerstacker Fellowship Program I. The advanced leadership development program is known as the Gerstacker Fellowship Program II. To learn more, click here.