Jackson Free Press

Jackson Public School Board members selected former vice president Monica Gilmore-Love as the new board president this week.

Gilmore-Love represents Ward 1 on the board. She is a 20-year veteran of the environmental consulting business and a mother to three JPS students. She attended Alcorn State University and earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering at Mississippi State University.

She said it is the desire of the school board to move JPS forward in a positive way, including improving the academic performance of all students. To do so, officials, administration and teachers need to be more considerate of how they can communicate with parents, and make themselves more accessible to parents by extending hours at the school.

"We need to be more considerate of how we can communicate with those parents when needed, whether that be by email, text or through visiting their homes, if they will allow," Gilmore-Love said. "It is worthwhile and beneficial to both the parents and the child to be an engaged and an involved parent in your school. For me, I have always been (involved), and would encourage other parents to do the same."

The School Board, along with new Superintendent Cedrick Gray, wants to see the school district move forward technologically and take advantage of new ways of communication, such as Skype.

The goal for the board, Gilmore-Love said, is to help JPS become a district that our community and state look up to as a leader in education.

In 2009, the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce named Gilmore-Love Volunteer of the Year. She has served on the Parent Teacher Student Association at McWillie and Power APAC elementary schools and Chastain Middle School.