FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2005
Veteran FHSAA administrator Cecelia Jackson to retire
GAINESVILLE – Cecelia Jackson, a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association staff for more than 29 years, will retire effective January 31, 2006, the FHSAA Office announced today.
Jackson joined the FHSAA staff in July 1976 as Field Representative and immediately assumed responsibility for the Association's developing girls athletic program, overseeing the sports of girls basketball, softball, girls track & field and girls volleyball. Over her 29-year career with the FHSAA she has administered virtually every sport sponsored by the Association. In her current position of Director of Athletics Jackson's responsibilities include administration of the sports of golf, boys soccer and softball. She also coordinates agendas for and reports from district planning meetings in all sports.
"It is with deep regret that I have accepted Cecelia Jackson's letter of retirement," Commissioner John A. Stewart said. "Everyone on the FHSAA staff salute her many years of service to the student-athletes of Florida. Her experience and insight will be sorely missed. We wish Cecelia the very best as she begins this new and exciting period of her life."
Stewart immediately began the process of filling the position on the FHSAA staff. The advertisement for the position is available on FHSAA.org.
"To all principals, athletic directors, coaches, officials, board members and staff, I want to say thanks to everyone for the many years of support in adding girls and new sports to the FHSAA program," Jackson said. "It has been challenging in many instances and always rewarding. I am looking forward to my retirement to spend a lot of hours with my mother and immediate family."
Jackson, however, says she plans to remain active.
"I have a few things I plan on getting involved in," Jackson said. "I still plan on working with young people."
Jackson began her career in education in 1967 at Keystone Heights High School, where she coached girls basketball, girls golf, girls cross country and girls track & field. She also served six years as a contest official in the sports of girls basketball, softball and track & field.
Jackson earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C., in 1967 and her master's degree in recreation administration from Florida State University in 1974.
In addition to her staff responsibilities at the FHSAA, Jackson has served on the National Federation of State High School Association's softball rules committee, swimming & diving rules committee and national records committee. She also served as liaision to the Florida Commission on Gender Equity.
Jackson was honored as the National Federation Officials Association Distinguished Contributor of the Year in 1999 and received the National Federation Citation Award in 2004.
About the FHSAA
Headquartered in Gainesville, the Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 720 middle and senior public and private high schools. More than 175,000 student-athletes annually participate in one or more of the FHSAA’s 28 championship sports programs. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
Contacts:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
