OSSAA’s David Jackson named NFHS Board President

INDIANAPOLIS — David Jackson, executive director of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), is the new president of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for 2018-19. Jackson, the 59th president of the NFHS, began his one-year term July 3 following the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Jackson was appointed executive director of the OSSAA in October 2016 after serving as interim executive director for two months. He is the eighth – and first African-American – full-time executive director of the OSSAA, and he is the fifth current African-American to head a state high school association.

Jackson, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Central University in Ada, had served on the OSSAA administrative staff for 20 years before becoming executive director – seven years as associate executive director and 13 years as assistant executive secretary. Before he joined the OSSAA, Jackson served 11 years at Pauls Valley High School, first as a math teacher and coach, and then as principal for five years. Jackson coached football, basketball, and track and field for six years at Pauls Valley.

Jackson also has been involved with high school activity programs at the national level through service on NFHS committees. He is a past member of the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee, NFHS Football Rules Committee, the original NFHS Strategic Planning Committee and the NFHS Coaches Education Committee.