Jass Stewart has earned a reputation for being a strategic thinker, a consensus builder, and a hands-on manager who knows how to get ideas, products, and policy to market. 

Throughout his career, Jass has launched major public policy initiatives in association with national education and media campaigns, provided strategic training to community groups to build their on-the-ground leadership capacity, and engaged hundreds of institutions in the critical work of diversifying their constituent base. In addition, Jass has raised over $19 million from the private and public sector as an entrepreneur and a nonprofit executive.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

  • Executive management experience in organizational leadership and relationship building with education, community, political, and business leaders. 

  • A strategic thinker, succinct communicator, and consensus builder with strong skills in public speaking, facilitating, research, negotiating, writing, client services, and product development. 

  • Extensive background in private-sector, government, and foundation fundraising, directly securing $11.3 million and key contributor in attaining $14.6 million. 

  • Skilled with office, project management, digital production, and HR software, including Alchemer (SurveyGizmo), Google Workspace, Final Cut Pro, Microsoft Office 365, SalesForce, ServiceNow, Smartsheet, Workday, and Zoom. 

 

EDUCATION

M.B.A. in Human Capital Management, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA

SENIOR FELLOW, MIT, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Cambridge, MA

M.Ed., Boston University, School of Education, Boston, MA

B.S., Boston University, College of Communication, Boston, MA

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, Business and Management Magnet High School, Dallas, TX

 

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

2022-PRES

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, Los Angeles, CA

CHIEF STRATEGY AND INNOVATION OFFICER

Oversee strategy, communication, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and innovation pilots for one of Los Angeles County's largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks.

 

2013-2022

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Malden, ma

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (2018-2022)

SENIOR STRATEGIST, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT (2017-2018)

SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF (2016)

SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SR. ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER (2014-2015)

CONSULTING PROJECT DIRECTOR (2013-2014)

Worked closely with the commissioner and the state's leadership team for K-12 education as a member of senior staff. Responsibilities included strategy and operations, communication and marketing, and fundraising and donor stewardship.

 

2010-2016

City of Brockton, MA

CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE

Represented the diverse interests of nearly 100,000 residents and oversaw a $350-million budget to ensure the efficient and cost-effective delivery of services through the filing of legislation; the enactment of orders, ordinances, and resolutions; and by analyzing appropriations and loan orders.

 

2007-2014

JASS STEWART CONSULTING, BROCKTON, MA

PRINCIPAL

Developed integrated business and communications solutions for mission-driven organizations, including City Year (Boston), Diploma Plus (Boston), Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, United Way of Greater Plymouth County (Brockton), and Year Up (Boston).

 

2005-2007

Big Picture Learning, Providence, RI

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Served as chief national facilitator in leading education reform and leadership development in 15 cities across the country. Big Picture is an education advocacy and school-startup organization funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

FOUNDER AND CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER, Invent Media (Brockton): Developed and led solid business strategy for social marketing and technology firm serving mission-driven organizations.

SENIOR DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, MANAGER, ASSISTANT MANAGER, PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR, Blackside Film and Television Productions (Boston): Led the growth of company’s Marketing, Outreach, and New Media department.

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Boston University: Designed and taught graduate-level course on educational media and technology and two summer courses on television and film production.

RESEARCHER, WGBH Educational Foundation (Boston): Conducted primary and secondary research for national PBS television programs in development.

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Board and Committee Experience: Boston, MA (Artists for Humanity, Black Men’s Health Alliance, Boston University Alumni Association, Center for Science Exploration); Brockton, MA (Boys and Girls Club, Brockton Cable Board, Brockton Community Schools, Brockton Neighbors United, Mayor’s After-School Taskforce, Mayor’s Cultural Affairs Committee, Neighborhood Crime Watch, Signature Healthcare Business Council); Massachusetts (Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care, Massachusetts Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys). 

 

TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Africa: Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda. Asia: Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. Caribbean: Bahamas, Haiti, Puerto Rico. Europe: France, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Latin America: Mexico. North America: Canada, United States (33 states).