Dr. Mary Jackson wins 2012 Educator of the Year Award

Dr. Mary Jackson (left) is shown accepting her award from Millie Bergman, Fort Bend County Branch AAUW officer.

Dr. Mary Jackson has been named the 2012 Educator of the Year by the Fort Bend County Branch of the American Association of University Women.

Jackson is the Fort Bend Independent School District's director of special programs. She received the award at the association's annual recognition dinner held May 10 at the Sweetwater Country Club.

The AAUW dedicates itself to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. It recognized Jackson for her professional accomplishments, leadership abilities and community involvement.

Jackson was instrumental in implementing the district's Reading Recovery program and in the creation of the Ridgemont Early Childhood Center. She is also a founding member and current board secretary of ACHIEVE Fort Bend County. ACHIEVE is a nonprofit organization that focuses on dropout prevention and recovery. She is a board member and program committee chairperson of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, a member of the regional Foster Grandparent Program Advisory Board and treasurer of the Reading Recovery Council of North America Board of Directors.