The Clayton County Board of Education named Luvenia Jackson interim superintendent Monday night.

Jackson will lead the 51,000-student Clayton County district after Superintendent Edmond Heatley’s departure at the end of the month.

Jackson, who retired in 2009, served more than 30 years in Clayton’s public school system as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent and in other roles, the school board said in a news release.

“I am very excited to once again have an opportunity to serve the students and families of Clayton County in an official capacity,” Jackson said. “This community has been a huge part of who I am for virtually all of my adult life. I am honored.”

Heatley, the district’s eighth superintendent since 2000, announced his resignation Aug. 29. He is expected to become head of the school system in Berkeley, Calif.

During his stint in Clayton County, he helped the school district regain full accreditation and contributed to balancing the budget. But his tenure was not without controversy. He clashed with some school board members and was criticized because his wife and two children were on the Clayton school payroll while teachers were facing layoffs.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A 1-year-old receives the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at a clinic in Texas. Of the nearly 2,000 U.S. measles cases reported this year, 93% of those who were infected were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Featured

Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez