David Jackson

Born and raised in Southern California, David R. Jackson embraced an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. When he was 12, he began his first paying job as a paperboy for the Anaheim Bulletin and throughout his teens he worked at several jobs which helped him to receive his pilot’s license at 16. Upon graduating from high school, David’s dream to make the US Olympic ski team took him with two friends to drive down the Pan-American Highway on a 6-month adventure to Chile to ski, then hitchhike across the Andes to Argentina, and Brazil before driving back to California. Returning from this adventure to South America, David attended Fullerton college and Brigham Young University for four years. During this time, he was asked at age 20 to temporarily manage a ski lodge in Park City, Utah for the summer. This turned out to become a full-time position while continuing taking classes at BYU. He left after 3 ½ years to spend a year driving through Europe, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, and Scandinavia. David then started a successful aircraft cleaning business and two other smaller businesses for 10 years. He sold his business in 1979 to become the Business Manager of Fairmont Schools and was soon promoted to Director. His entrepreneurial spirit drove him to expand Fairmont to five campuses in Orange County and 10 partner schools in Asia. Dedicated to serving the educational community, he served with the Boy Scouts of America, and directed an Orange County Department of Education Committee. Over a 30-year period he served as President of the California Association of Nationally Recognized Schools, the Orange County Private School Association, and the National Independent Private School Association. A man of faith, David served over the last 50 years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in many leadership positions including 6 years as a Bishop in Corona, CA. He and his wife, Stacey, served a total of 3 ½ years in Russia and Eastern Europe as humanitarian and self-reliance missionaries, returning each time to continue his work and passion at Fairmont Schools. In 2023 he sold Fairmont to the International Schools Partnership (ISP) while retaining ownership of all the Orange County campuses. Presently, he holds the title of Chairman of Fairmont Schools. Now semi-retired, David and Stacey spend much of their time in philanthropic endeavors, working closely with the Orange County educational community. He and Stacey recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary and reside in Orange County, where they enjoy visiting with their five children and 13 grandchildren. Skiing and traveling continue to be his passion and he and Stacey vow to grow their list of over 120 counties visited so far.