Dr. Andy Jacks is an elementary school principal, national speaker, author and NAESP Senior Fellow.
Andy and his team at Ashland Elementary School have led a transformation to improve culture, student performance, and school discipline. They have sky-rocketed student achievement becoming one of the top-performers in the state all while implementing innovative student-led programs such as elementary age students refurbishing computers and donating them to the community.
Andy and Ashland Elementary have received recognition including the VAESP School Bell Award, VAESP Virginia Principal of the Year Award, NAESP Nationally Distinguished Principal Award, VDOE Excellence & Distinguished Achievement Awards, VDOE Distinguished Purple Star School Award, and a visit from the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Andy serves as a Senior Fellow for the National Association of Elementary Schools Centers for Advancing Leadership. As a Senior Fellow, he helps to lead four new centers and NAESP Fellows to connect, educate, and inspire school leaders across the country.
Andy received his doctorate at Virginia Tech University. His dissertation was focused on finding new ways to reduce or eliminate exclusionary discipline for students with disabilities.
Andy lives in Northern Virginia with his wonderful wife and three amazing kids. His experiences as a dad continue to form new connections to better serving our students.