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AGE: 48 |
He’s been handed one of the toughest jobs in the city: fixing the dysfunctional and debt-ridden public schools. But fresh off a tumultuous stint as school superintendent in Rochester, New York, the Haitian-born Brizard has got Rahm Emanuel in his corner, as well as a three-year contract that pays him more than the mayor and puts the responsibility of improving student performance squarely on his shoulders. If Brizard can deliver a higher graduation rate and more college-bound seniors, his influence could ripple through city neighborhoods, boosting the region’s economy and decreasing the crime rate.
MORE ON BRIZARD: A Chat with Jean-Claude Brizard, the Personal and Professional | Jean-Claude Brizard on Rahm, CTU President Karen Lewis, and More | Meet Jean-Claude Brizard, the Next Head of Chicago Public Schools
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Photograph: Shauna Bittle/Chicago Tribune