Shavar Jeffries is an American civil rights attorney who in January 2023 became the CEO of the KIPP Foundation, a nonprofit which trains and develops educators to lead KIPP public schools; provides tools, resources and training for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organizations. Previously, he was the president ofDemocrats for Education Reform, which promotes more charter schools, school funding and stricter teacher evaluations to revamp public education.[1][2][3] A former assistant state Attorney General, he was a candidate in the2014 election forMayor ofNewark, New Jersey,[4] after which he became a partner atLowenstein Sandler in August 2014.[5][6]
Jeffries grew up in theSouth Ward of Newark. He lost his mother to violence and was raised by his grandmother, a public school teacher.[7] He first attendedNewark Public Schools and later received a scholarship to attendSeton Hall Preparatory School inWest Orange.[8] Jeffries obtained his bachelor's degree fromDuke University in 1996.[9] After graduating he attendedColumbia Law School where he served as managing editor of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review[9] and clerked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He received hisJuris Doctor in 1999. Jeffries lives in the South Ward with his wife, Tenagne Girma-Jeffries, and their two children.
Jeffries has been an associate professor at the Center for Social Justice atSeton Hall Law School since 2004. In 2008-2010, he took a leave of absence to serve as Assistant Attorney General and Counsel toNew Jersey Attorney GeneralAnne Milgram and led several departments, including the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Civil Rights Division.[10]
Jeffries announced his election bid on May 20, 2013.[13][14]Jeffries was relatively unknown in Newark,[4][15] where typically one runs first for council and then for mayor.[4] Jeffries introduced a public safety plan in October 2013[16][17] As of January 2014, Jeffries had raised the most campaign financing of the candidates.[18]
The election took place May 13, 2014 and Jeffries was defeated byMunicipal Council of Newark Council MemberRas Baraka.[13] Other potential candidates, Council Members Anibal Ramos, Jr. and Darrin S. Sharif,[19][15][20] had earlier dropped out of the race.[21]
Jeffries' eight-member councilslate includes incumbents East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. and At-large Councilman Carlos Gonzalez and candidates Brian Logan (South Ward). Kevin Waters (West Ward) and Andre Speight (Central Ward). Lynda Lloyd (At-large), and former AssemblymanWilfredo Caraballo (At-large).[22]
In 2015 Jeffries has established the Donna Johnson Memorial Scholarship to support the educational development of a young person who has experienced the loss of a parent, guardian, or loved one because of domestic violence, or whose life has otherwise been touched by violence against women.[30]
Shavar Jeffries resigned from the Board of Directors of theSuccess Academy Charter Schools in 2017. Jeffries is a critic of Education SecretaryBetsy DeVos and President Donald Trump.[31] This position was in conflict with Success Academy chief executive officerEva Moskowitz, who had supported Hillary Clinton, but was muted in her criticism of Trump until several days after Jeffries' resignation.[32][33]
The resignation of Jeffries came before Dan Loeb, Success Academy board chair and wealthy hedge fund executive made racial remarks about State Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. These comments triggered a PR crisis in the biggest charter network of NYC. Loeb's statement was the black lawmaker "did more damage to people of color than anyone who has ever donned a hood.[34]" Moskowitz said an apology for these remarks was necessary. The complete post of Loeb ridiculed the legislator for not supporting charter schools. He lauded State Senator Jeff Klein who was always vocal in backing charter institutions. 93 percent of students enrolled as Success Academy are either Black or Latino.[35]
^abcGiambusso, David (June 2, 2013)."With three major candidates declared, Newark braces for mayoral race".The Star-Ledger. RetrievedDecember 2, 2013."We intend to show people that when I become mayor we all become mayor," he said. Jeffries, a former assistant state Attorney General, has a strong narrative. He grew up in the South Ward and lost his mother to violence. He graduated from Duke University and Columbia Law School and came back to Newark to raise his family. He has strong connections to charter schools, as well as Duke and Columbia alumni, which gives him an edge in fundraising. But Jeffries is relatively unknown in Newark, where typically one runs for council before shooting for mayor.
^W, R (August 14, 2013)."When Cory's gone".Democracy in America. The Economist.Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. RetrievedDecember 5, 2013.
^"About Shavar Jeffries".For Newark Mayor 2014. www.shavarjeffries.com. Archived fromthe original on December 6, 2013. RetrievedDecember 5, 2013.
