Mayor Muriel Bowser has tapped Dr. Kim Jackson as interim chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, elevating a veteran district insider to steer DCPS through a closely watched leadership handoff. Jackson will step in as Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee prepares to exit, with his final day set for Friday, June 19, 2026.
Announcing the move on Tuesday, Bowser praised Jackson as “a lifelong educator” and said the city is “proud to have another lifelong educator at the helm of DCPS.” Jackson called the interim role “an honor” and said she is focused on “building on our progress” so every student has the opportunity to thrive, according to FOX 5 DC.
Jackson's record inside DCPS
Jackson joined DCPS in 2012 as principal of Seaton Elementary and was named DCPS Principal of the Year in 2015. She later served as an Instructional Superintendent and Chief of Elementary Schools and now holds the role of Chief of Schools, according to her official biography. DC Public Schools notes that Seaton posted strong gains in both math and English language arts during her tenure and credits her with helping to lead district literacy initiatives.
Ferebee's next role and timeline
Ferebee will not be out of education for long. In May, EdReports announced that it has selected him as its next chief executive, saying he will begin in late June and framing the hire as part of the organization’s next phase.
Locally, Ferebee has told staff he will finish out the school year before departing, with June 19 listed as his last day and the timing of the handoff laid out in a letter to DCPS employees, NBC4 Washington reported.
What comes next for DC schools
Bowser has said the interim chancellor is expected to keep the district on track while a permanent replacement is chosen, and the next elected mayor will lead that longer-term search. The D.C. Council must sign off on the mayor’s pick, and a 2007 law requires the mayor to give strong consideration to recommendations from the Washington Teachers’ Union, a provision that can shape how the selection unfolds, The Washington Post noted.
District leaders say their top priority for the summer is continuity: keeping academic programs, hiring and school-year planning on schedule so families and principals get a smooth start in the fall. Local reporting indicates Bowser is zeroed in on readiness for the new academic year, and all eyes will be on how Jackson manages summer operations and back-to-school planning, WTOP reported.
