Jacqui Clay

Activity

Received 1.5 million dollars in collaboration with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office (Sheriff Dannels) for the School Safety Program. This project will provide charter and unified school districts communication and interconnectivity to the Sheriff's Office. 

In 2021, founded the New Crossroads Academy, a dropout recovery accommodation school for high-risk students (ages 16 – 22), currently over 500 students enrolled across the state.

Received a 75,000 dollar grant for a county Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) garden (located at 4001 Foothills, Sierra Vista), a learning space for New Crossroads Students (available for teachers/students of Cochise County by appointment).

Received a 10,000 dollar grant for the Cochise County "Reading Across Cochise County" initiative, which, in collaboration with the community and businesses, will place books in the hands of over 5,000 Kindergarten – 3^rd grade students.

Received a 1.3 million dollar grant to create the Cochise County School Behavioral Health Consortium. The rationale for the consortium is to provide behavioral health services to the schools in Cochise County at an affordable price.

Received a 75,000 dollar grant for a county Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) garden (located at 4001 Foothills, Sierra Vista).

Received a 260,000 dollar grant for literacy, providing training and stipends for K - 5 teachers to receive state-required reading endorsement.

Hosts the Yearly Innovations in Education Conference for educators and community members; this event provides presentations and opportunities for community members to learn and collaborate regarding educational issues.

Selected by the Governor in 2021 to serve on the Arizona Board of Education, advocates for education county and statewide.

About

Dr. Jacqui Clay has been recognized by Canyon Vista Medical Center and the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona for inclusion on the Veterans Wall at Canyon Vista Medical Center (CVMC) for 2023. In 2016 she was also selected as Arizona's Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year. In 2020 was selected to receive the Policymaker Award by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona. Dr. Clay was nominated for Sierra Vista’s Women in Action Award and featured in the book, "Gratitude Revealed, A Tribute to Women with Undaunting Commitment and Humility,” and received the Best of Sierra Vista & Tombstone award for work and education. In 2018 she was recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution for Women in American History and in 2017 she was selected as Luminary by Arizona Black Educators. Dr. Clay is a member of Cognia’s national school accreditation and STEM accreditation team. She serves on various boards, including the Arizona State Board of Education, Arizona Association of Counties (AACo), Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC), the Arizona Rural Schools (ARSA) Executive Board, and the Arizona Career and Technical Education (CTE) Quality Commission. Dr. Clay is on the steering committee of the Douglas Education Partnership Regional Council, a group of community leaders that inform and address education issues in the community. She is a member of the U.S. Women Veterans Advocacy Initiative Advisory Panel and the Women's Army Corps Veterans Association-Army Women United. She is also a member of the Fort Huachuca Sergeants Major Association and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). She has been married to J. Dale Clay for 34 years, has 7 children, 22 grandchildren, and 1 great-granddaughter.

Education

Dr. Jacqui Clay, NY native, Army retiree, educator of 16 years, now Cochise County Superintendent, overseeing 21 districts and 23,000+ students. Also, a True Colors, Intl. facilitator and Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University.

Experience

Dr. Clay has a B.S. in Information Technology/Business Management from Park University, a M.ET. in Educational Technology from the University of Arizona, an ED. S. in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, and a Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Education from Grand Canyon University