Tauheedah Jackson
As the State Director for Connecticut at the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Tauheedah Jackson helps shape and execute the Foundation’s regional strategy by strengthening community-to-state coalitions, advancing education justice efforts, promoting data and knowledge systems, and supporting local communities in translating their priorities into policy, budget, and practice.
Tauheedah brings more than 25 years of experience spanning youth development, local government, philanthropy, education, and out-of-school time programs. Prior to joining Nellie Mae, she served as the Deputy Director and inaugural Director of EdRedesign’s Institute for Success Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Serving in dual capacities, Tauheedah partnered with communities nationwide to design personalized, relationship-based systems of support for children and youth through cross-sector collaboration, led EdRedesign’s organizational culture strategy, and developed and supported local and national partnership efforts. She also previously served as Director of Place-Based Strategy & Community School Initiatives at the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), where she supported networks of local leaders in building, scaling, and sustaining cross-sector, place-based Community Schools initiatives across the country. Tauheedah currently serves as Vice Chair of IEL’s Board of Directors. Before moving into national leadership, she served as Director of the former Hartford Partnership for Student Success, a collaborative partnership that founded and funded a local Community Schools initiative in Hartford, Connecticut.
A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Tauheedah is a first-generation college graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in government and Secondary Education from Connecticut College and a master’s degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is also a sought-after facilitator, presenter, and consultant. As the mother of three sons—Isaiah, Isaac, and Ian—Tauheedah is deeply committed to expanding access and opportunity for all children and youth.
