Jamie Downs
Jamie Downs joins Transcend as the Partner, System Stakeholder Lead. Previously, Jamie served as Chief Schools Officer for Meeting Street Schools in Charleston, SC. Jamie has a deep background in education, including over 14 years in Houston, TX, where he was a Lead Principal at YES Prep Public Schools, overseeing YES Prep Southside, a 6th-12th grade school with 900 students and 85 staff members. He also managed and coached principals-in-residence.
Before that, Jamie was the founding Principal of YES Prep Eisenhower, achieving college readiness for all students. His educational journey began as a Teach For America corps member in Houston, where he taught sixth grade English at Fondren Middle School and later became an Assistant Principal at Sharpstown High School.
Jamie holds a Bachelor’s degree from USC, an MBA from Rice University through the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D in Urban Education Leadership at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Jamie is inspired by Transcend’s impactful work across the country and is eager to contribute his experience to Transcend’s mission of disrupting the status quo.
Continue Your Journey
Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning
Transcend’s Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning describes the key ways we believe the student experience must change so that schools can prepare all young people to thrive in and transform the world.
Transform Learning with Community-Based Design
Community-based design is a collaborative and local process that brings together young people, educators, administrators, caregivers, and experts to redesign learning. It goes beyond traditional school improvement initiatives by involving the entire community in reshaping...
