Archive - Commissioner Dwight Jones' Biography

Dwight Jones

Colorado Commissioner of Education (2007-2010)

Dwight Jones was appointed Colorado Commissioner of Education on June 1, 2007, by a unanimous vote of the Colorado State Board of Education. Before becoming commissioner, he was the superintendent of schools for the Fountain-Fort Carson School District for four years. He takes pride in being an educator for more than 20 years.

Jones makes education excellence his life's mission. He sets high expectations for all students because he believes it is the best way to ensure success for each child. As a teacher, principal and then superintendent, he successfully reduced achievement gaps for minorities and significantly improved test scores for all students.

His education philosophy was instilled by his own parents who set high expectations for him. He knows that too many minority students still suffer the long-term effects of a substandard education. Jones possesses a proven record of ensuring that all students succeed regardless of race or status.
Jones serves on many boards and councils and is highly respected among his peers as a leading expert in improving achievement for all students. He serves on the Education Commission of the States and the Closing the Achievement Gap Commission as well as many other organizations. He is an adjunct professor, speaker and writer.

Jones previous educational experience includes serving as an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Fountain-Fort Carson and Wichita, Kansas Public Schools. He was the principal of a large urban high school in Wichita after moving through the ranks of elementary and middle schools as teacher and principal in the Wichita Public Schools system. Jones was also an operational vice president of Edison Schools, Inc.