Jacqueline Thompson is drawing on a lifetime of experience and service as a public school teacher and civil rights advocate in her role as assistant superintendent of the Davis School District.

Thompson began her career as an elementary school teacher in Idaho and California. In 1984, she took a job at Hill Air Force Base as an equal employment opportunity specialist. Three years later, she launched the base’s African American Community Outreach Program, which visits schools and community groups to motivate youth to stay in school, identify positive role models and reject drugs, alcohol and violence. In 1993, Thompson moved to the Utah State Office of Education, working as an education and gender equity specialist. In 2000, she was hired by Davis School District and later served as the district’s director of educational equity, where she worked until her initial retirement in 2017. In December 2021, Davis School District Superintendent Reid Newey appointed Thompson to serve as assistant superintendent. In her new role, she will be working on diversity and equity issues as well as work that will take place following the district’s recent settlement with the Department of Justice.

During her career, Thompson has received numerous awards and recognitions, for her civil rights and gender equity work including the Spirit of the American Woman Award for Public Education and the Utah Woman’s Achievement Award from the Governor’s Commission for Women and Families. She was selected as Mrs. Utah in 1999. In 2012, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert appointed Thompson to the State Multicultural Commission. Thompson received the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP’s Martin Luther King Award, the Drum Major Award for the Utah State Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission, and the university Black Student Union’s Annual Legacy Award. Thompson was recognized with the Idaho State University Alumni Association’s Professional Achievement Award in 2015. Most recently, she received the Women in History Award from the Utah State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Thompson received a bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University, a master’s from Weber State University and a doctorate from Utah State University—all in education.

Thompson and her husband, Edward, have two sons and four grandchildren.

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