James V. Jackson is the Chief of Staff for Southfield Public Schools, where he serves as a senior advisor to the Superintendent and oversees communications, athletics, security, and special projects. A Southfield High graduate, he joined the district in 2021 following 12 years as a senior staffer in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and a 16-year career in financial services.

Active in his community, James serves as an officer in the Michigan State Defense Force and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is a former President of the Southfield Board of Education and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the NAACP. James holds a degree in Business Administration from Kentucky State University. He and his wife, Carol, have four daughters.