Jo Ann Clark, East Saint Paul resident from Tennessee, has worked for over two decades to support SPPS and provide more opportunities for students of color. Jo Ann can be found in Harding High School as an AVID tutor twice a week and puts on the 'Thinking College Early' Saturday fairs for parents and students. In addition, she fundraises and runs the annual Progressive Baptist College Tour that takes students of color to Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the country to help them get a better understanding of what college is like.

Her support of SPPS began when she sent the first of her three children to preschool. Since then, she knew that in order for her children to be successful in school she had to be involved in their academic careers.

"I never knew how important education was until I became a parent myself."

 Initially, Jo Ann became active with her children's education by 'just showing up' to the school's PTA meetings and doing whatever they asked her to do. She then became the first female African American PTA president at Harding where she set up a partnership to get students and staff more involved. Read more...