Mount Vernon Head Of School Among Atlanta's Most Admired CEOs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Dr. Brett Jacobsen, head of school at Mount Vernon Presbyterian, has been named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle's Most Admired CEOs for 2017.

The list was released in July and honorees were recognized at a ceremony held Aug. 24 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill, the magazine states. Jacobsen was recognized in the education category, along with Georgia State University President Mark Becker and Erika James, dean of Emory University's Goizueta Business School. Northside Hospital President & CEO Robert Quattrocchi was recognized under the healthcare category.

The Most Admired CEOs award recognizes established Atlanta leaders in 18 categories who have a strong vision for their companies, have shown commitment to culture in the workplace and made significant contributions to the metro Atlanta community. The selection committee was comprised of Atlanta Business Chronicle's editorial team and former winners (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

“Brett’s bold vision has transformed Mount Vernon," said Board Chair Chuck Waters. "Under his leadership, MVPS has become a destination school in Atlanta. And nationally, he and his team have put Mount Vernon on the map. Our Board is very proud of Brett, and we are grateful for all of his efforts. Our school is fortunate to have a person with his talents and character as its leader.

Receiving this award among a field of prominent city leaders and stakeholders, Jacobsen is known for casting a powerful mission and for creating a culture where children are inspired to think, wonder, create, and problem solve, the school said. Since arriving at Mount Vernon in 2009, its enrollment has grown by 20 percent, philanthropic support has more than doubled, and more than 2,500 educators from around the world have come to Mount Vernon to learn the school’s innovative teaching practices.

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Leading Mount Vernon through a transformational period, Jacobsen launched the Mount Vernon Institute for Innovation. Focused on addressing local and global challenges, MVIFI cultivates public-private partnerships fostering creative collaboration at the intersections of the marketplace, education sector, nonprofit and civic communities.

As an extension of MVIFI, Jacobsen launched the School’s Innovation Diploma, which empowers high schoolers to implement high-impact work. Rather than outsourcing the work to professionals, Mount Vernon students take on real-world projects and so far, students have solved problems for the Centers for Disease Control, the city of Sandy Springs, AT&T and Porsche Cars North America.

Photo: Pictured left to right are Rosalyn Merrick, Allison Toller, Carl Streck, Debbie Becker, Brett and Adrienne Jacobsen, Lisa Drake, Chuck Waters, Bruce Morine, and Bo Adamsmage. Credit: Mount Vernon Presbyterian School